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Elderly subjects are impaired in spatial coordination in fine motor control
J L Contreras-Vidal1, H L Teulings, G E Stelmach
1Motor Control Laboratory, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-0404, USA. pepe@asu.edu
Acta Psychologica
|December 9, 1998
Summary
Aging impairs spatial coordination in handwriting movements, affecting elderly individuals more than young adults. Straightness scores varied with orientation in older adults, unlike younger ones.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging is associated with changes in motor control and coordination.
- Understanding age-related differences in handwriting can provide insights into motor system changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in handwriting movement control.
- To examine how coordination demands and stroke orientation affect handwriting in elderly versus young adults.
Main Methods:
- Elderly and young control subjects performed handwriting movements in various orientations.
- Analysis focused on normalized jerk, straightness scores, stroke size, and stroke duration.
Main Results:
- Elderly subjects exhibited higher normalized jerk and straightness scores compared to young subjects.
- Straightness scores were significantly dependent on stroke orientation in the elderly, but not in the young.
- Jerk scores were independent of coordination demands in both groups.
Conclusions:
- Aging deteriorates spatial coordination of finger and wrist movements, as evidenced by orientation-dependent straightness.
- Accelerative force control, indicated by jerk scores, appears unaffected by aging in this context.
- Orientation-dependent straightness in the elderly may stem from timing or muscle force scaling issues.