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Interlimb practice and aging: coding a simple movement sequence
Stefan Panzer1, Nicole Gruetzmacher, Thomas Ellenbürger
1a Human Movement Sciences , Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany.
Unlabelled:
BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: The purpose was to determine if aging interacts with the coding of a simple spatial-temporal movement sequence.
Methods:
An interlimb practice paradigm (24 participants; 12 young adults [age: 23-29]; 12 old adults [age: 65-78]) was designed to determine the coordinate system (visual-spatial/motor) that is used to code the movement sequence. Practice was scheduled over 2 days involving either the same visual-spatial or the same motor coordinates. On Day 3, two retention tests (Day 1/Day 2) were conducted.
Results:
Keeping the motor coordinates the same during acquisition resulted in superior retention only for younger adults.
Conclusion:
The data provide strong evidence that the motor code plays a dominant role in acquiring simple movement sequences for younger adults, but not for older adults.
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