Development of temporal and spatial bimanual coordination during childhood

B.J. de Boer, C.E. Peper, P.J. Beek

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    Abstract

    Developmental changes in bimanual coordination were examined in four age
    groups: 6/7, 10/11, 14/15 years, and young adults. Temporal coupling was assessed
    through the stabilizing contributions of interlimb interactions related to planning,
    error correction, and reflexes during rhythmic wrist movements, by comparing
    various unimanual and bimanual tasks involving passive and active movements.
    Spatial coupling was assessed via bimanual line-circle drawing. With increasing
    age, temporal stability improved. Relative contributions of planning and reflex
    interactions to the achieved stability did not change, whereas error correction
    improved. In-phase and antiphase coordination developed at similar rates; implications
    of this result were discussed in terms of mirror-activity inhibition. Overall
    spatial drawing performance (circularity, variability, smoothness) improved with
    age, and spatial interference was smaller in adults than children. Whereas temporal
    coupling increased from 6/7 years to adulthood, spatial coupling changed
    mainly after 14/15 years. This difference in the development of temporal and
    spatial coupling corresponds to the anterior-posterior direction of corpus callosum
    myelination as reported in the literature.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)537-559
    JournalMotor control
    Volume16
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

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