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Published on: January 11, 2016
Developmental changes in lateralized inhibition of symmetric movements in children with and without Developmental
Jessica Tallet1, Jean-Michel Albaret, Jérôme Barral
1Université de Toulouse, UPS, PRISSMH-LAPMA, Toulouse, France. jessica.tallet@univ-tlse3.fr
Insights
Typically developing children improve selective motor inhibition with age. Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) show persistent difficulties in inhibiting symmetric movements, indicating delayed inter-hemispheric communication.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Motor Control
Background:
- Selective motor inhibition is crucial for skilled movement.
- Developmental changes in motor control are evident in childhood.
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is associated with motor difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate developmental changes in selective inhibition of symmetric movements.
- To compare motor inhibition skills in typically developing (TD) children and children with DCD.
- To examine the role of inter-hemispheric communication in motor development.
Main Methods:
- A lateralized switching task involving bimanual to unimanual tapping was employed.
- Participants included 12 TD children and 12 children with DCD (7-10 years old).
- Measures included inhibition of the stopping finger and maintenance of the continuing finger.
Main Results:
- TD children demonstrated age-related improvements in inhibiting and maintaining finger tapping.
- Children with DCD exhibited persistent difficulties in inhibiting left finger tapping.
- Both groups showed improvement in inhibition through practice trials.
Conclusions:
- The lateralized switching task effectively differentiates motor inhibition abilities in TD children and those with DCD.
- Improved selective inhibition of the left finger in TD children suggests developing inter-hemispheric communication.
- Delayed or absent inter-hemispheric communication development may underlie motor deficits in DCD.
Abstract:
The present study investigates developmental changes in selective inhibition of symmetric movements with a lateralized switching task from bimanual to unimanual tapping in typically developing (TD) children and with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) from 7 to 10 years old. Twelve right-handed TD children and twelve gender-matched children with DCD and probable DCD produce a motor switching task in which they have (1) to synchronize with the beat of an auditory metronome to produce bimanual symmetrical tapping and (2) to selectively inhibit their left finger's tapping while continuing their right finger's tapping and conversely. We assess (1) the development of the capacity to inhibit the stopping finger (number of supplementary taps after the stopping instruction) and (2) the development of the capacity to maintain the continuing finger (changes in the mean tempo and its variability for the continuing finger's tapping) and (3) the evolution of performance through trials. Results indicate that (1) TD children present an age-related increase in the capacity to inhibit and to maintain the left finger's tapping, (2) DCD exhibits persistent difficulties to inhibit the left finger's tapping, and (3) both groups improve their capacity to inhibit the left finger's movements through trials. In conclusion, the lateralized switching task provides a simple and fine tool to reveal differences in selective inhibition of symmetric movements in TD children and children with DCD. More theoretically, the specific improvement in selective inhibition of the left finger suggests a progressive development of inter-hemispheric communication during typical development that is absent or delayed in children with DCD.
