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Published on: March 1, 2019
The end-state comfort effect in young children
Carola F Adalbjornsson1, Mark G Fischman, Mary E Rudisill
1Actavis Group, Hafnarfirdi, Iceland.
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
|April 25, 2008
Summary
Young children do not show the end-state comfort effect when grasping objects. This study found no evidence of this planning in preschool and kindergarten children, impacting understanding of manual control development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Motor Control
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The end-state comfort effect, where individuals adjust grips for comfort in the final action, is documented in adults.
- Its presence or absence in young children's motor planning is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether preschool and kindergarten children display end-state comfort during a manual task.
- To explore age-related differences in this motor planning behavior.
Main Methods:
- A cup-pouring task was administered to 40 children (20 preschoolers aged 2-3, 20 kindergarteners aged 5-6).
- Children's performance was videotaped and analyzed for grip adjustments related to end-state comfort.
Main Results:
- Only 11 out of 40 children demonstrated the end-state comfort effect.
- No significant differences in the occurrence of the effect were found between the two age groups.
- Five distinct performance patterns emerged, none aligning with end-state comfort.
Conclusions:
- Young children, including preschoolers and kindergarteners, do not consistently exhibit the end-state comfort effect.
- This suggests limited advance planning for grip comfort in early manual actions.
- Findings inform theories on the developmental trajectory of motor control and predictive planning.
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