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A developmental perspective of intermanual performance asymmetry in aiming
Ana Paula Kogake Claudio1, Luis Augusto Teixeira
1Human Motor Systems Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|October 5, 2012
Summary
Children show greater differences in hand performance during aiming tasks, especially with narrower targets. This asymmetry in intermanual performance is linked to planning strategies for the nondominant hand.
Area of Science:
- Motor control
- Human development
- Cognitive neuroscience
Background:
- Intermanual performance asymmetry is a known phenomenon.
- Understanding developmental changes in motor control is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare intermanual performance asymmetry in adults and children.
- To investigate age-related differences in aiming task timing components.
- To explore the relationship between asymmetry and target width.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed an aiming task using a computer mouse with both hands.
- Targets of varying widths were used.
- Timing components of movement, such as deceleration, were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Children exhibited longer deceleration movements with their left hand compared to adults.
- This resulted in greater intermanual performance asymmetry in children, particularly for narrower targets.
- Adults demonstrated less asymmetry across different target widths.
Conclusions:
- Children's increased intermanual performance asymmetry may stem from motor planning strategies.
- Specifically, children may plan to reduce trajectory variability when using their nondominant hand.
- These findings offer insights into the developmental trajectory of motor control and hand dominance.
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