title: Examining age-related movement representations for sequential (fine-motor) finger movements.
abstract: Theory suggests that imagined and executed movement planning relies on internal models for action. Using a chronometry paradigm to compare the movement duration of imagined and executed movements, we tested children aged 7-11 years and adults on their ability to perform sequential finger movements. Underscoring this tactic was our desire to gain a better understanding of the age-related ability to create internal models for action requiring fine-motor movements. The task required number recognition and ordering and was presented in three levels of complexity. Results for movement duration indicated that 7-year-olds and adults were different from the other groups with no statistical distinction between 9- and 11-year-olds. Correlation analysis indicated a significant relationship between imagined and executed actions. These results are the first to document the increasing convergence between imagined and executed movements in the context of fine-motor behavior; a finding that adds to our understanding of action representation in children.
authors: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States. c-gabbard@tamu.edu
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: Gabbard
authors: Priscila
authors: P
authors: Caçola
authors: Tatiana
authors: T
authors: Bobbio
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult