title: A developmental analysis of the relationship between hand preference and performance: I. Preferential reaching into hemispace.
abstract: The present study describes a developmental performance measure of hand preference that considers task complexity and position in hemispace. Eighty right-handed children and adults (ages 3-4, 6-7, 9-10, 18-24) were observed for hand selection responses to 2 unimanual tasks (simple vs complex) across positions in hemispace. Results revealed an age-related trend in the tendency to use the preferred hand in right and left hemispace. While the adult's and 3- to 4-year-old's preferred hand use decreased as they moved into left hemispace, children between the ages of 6 and 10 years tended to use their preferred hands consistently throughout both regions of hemispace. The relationship between hand preference and skilled, cost-efficient performance throughout development are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Canada.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pryde
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bryden
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*