Laterality in Children: Evidence for Task-Dependent Lateralization of Motor Functions
Danilo Bondi1, Giulia Prete2, Gianluca Malatesta2
1Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
Insights
Motor asymmetries, like handedness, emerge early in childhood. This study found stronger functional lateralization in right-handed children for fine motor skills and handgrip strength, regardless of age or gender.
Area of Science:
- Developmental neuroscience
- Motor control
- Human behavior
Background:
- Motor asymmetries, including the preference for using one side of the body, originate prenatally and influence functional development.
- While motor task type impacts asymmetries, consensus on their emergence during childhood remains elusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the emergence of distinct motor asymmetries in primary school children.
- To determine if motor asymmetries differ based on age, gender, or sports participation.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 381 primary school children (grades 1-5, ages 6-11).
- Assessed fine motor coordination (Floppy, Thumb) and handgrip strength (HS).
- Collected data on handedness, footedness, and sports participation.
Main Results:
- Children demonstrated better performance with their dominant side, particularly in the Floppy and HS tests.
- Motor asymmetries were more pronounced in right-handed children.
- No significant differences in asymmetries were observed based on age, gender, or sport type.
Conclusions:
- Functional lateralization is evident in complex motor tasks and maximal strength during childhood.
- Right-handed individuals exhibit stronger functional lateralization in motor tasks during primary school years.
- Fine motor skills provide insights into developmental trajectories of lateralized behavior.
Abstract:
The behavioral preference for the use of one side of the body starts from pre-natal life and prompt humans to develop motor asymmetries. The type of motor task completed influences those functional asymmetries. However, there is no real consensus on the occurrence of handedness during developmental ages. Therefore, we aimed to determine which motor asymmetries emerged differently during childhood. A total sample of 381 children in grades 1 to 5 (6-11 years old) of primary school were recruited and tested for two fine coordination tasks (Floppy, led by dexterity, and Thumb, led by speed-dominated skills) and handgrip strength (HS). Data about their handedness, footedness and sports participation were also collected. Children performed better with their dominant side, especially for the Floppy and HS tests. The asymmetries were more marked in right-handed children and did not differ by age, gender or type of sport. Our findings support the thesis of a functional lateralization in complex coordinative tasks and in maximal strength during developmental ages. Furthermore, our findings extend the evidence of a stronger lateralization in right-handed individuals, demonstrating it at a functional level in primary school children performing motor tasks. Fine motor skills allow a "fine" understanding of developmental trajectories of lateralized behavior.
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