title: The costs of taking it slowly: fast and slow movement timing in older age.
abstract: We investigated adult age-differences in timing control of fast vs. slow repetitive movements using a dual-task approach. Twenty-two young (M = 24.23 yr) and 22 older adults (M = 66.64 yr) performed three cognitive tasks differing in working memory load and response production demands and they tapped series of 550-ms or 2100-ms target intervals. Single-task timing was comparable in both groups. Dual-task timing was characterized by shortening of produced intervals and increases in drift and variability. Dual-task costs for both cognitive and timing performances were pronounced at slower tapping tempos, an effect exacerbated in older adults. Our findings implicate attention and working memory processes as critical components of slow movement timing and sources of specific challenges thereof for older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Leuven, Belgium. Ralf.Krampe@psy.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Ralf Th
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Krampe
authors.forename: Mihalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doumas
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavrysen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapp
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult