title: The role of attention in the regulation of associated movement in children.
abstract: The effect of attentional processes in regulating associated movement was studied in 10 male children in each of five age-groups from six to 16 years. They were asked to squeeze their index finger and thumb to 75 per cent of their own maximal volitional force under three conditions: a spontaneous baseline condition, a sensory feedback condition and a post-training condition without sensory feedback. Children of all ages were able to reduce the magnitude of associated movements during the sensory feedback condition. In the post-training condition some of the ability to inhibit was lost, particularly for the six-year-olds. This supports the view that the integration of higher order processes, such as attention, with lower-level neuromotor inhibitory mechanism, plays a role in the reduction of associated movement with increasing age. Implications for therapy with clinical populations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Dance, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Todor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*