Relationship between tactile spatial resolution and digital dexterity during childhood.
The aim of this study was to determine whether tactile spatial resolution and digital dexterity performance are associated during childhood. A total of 104 healthy children (52 boys and 52 girls) were assessed. The tactile spatial resolution threshold was determined using an enlarged set of JVP domes with a procedure adapted for children. Digital dexterity was tested with the Purdue Pegboard Test. While tactile spatial resolution and digital dexterity improved with age following a parallel evolution, no correlation was found between the scores of the children for both tests. We suggest that central maturational processes are responsible for a global refinement of sensory and motor function between the ages of 4 and 10 years, reaching the range of adult values at this age.
Bleyenheuft
Yannick
Y
Unité de réadaptation et de Médecine Physique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Wilmotte
Pauline
P
Thonnard
Jean-Louis
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*