title: Examining intention in simulated actions: are children and young adults different?
abstract: Previous work with adults provides evidence that 'intention' used in processing simulated actions is similar to that used in planning and processing overt movements. The present study compared young adults and children on their ability to estimate distance reachability using a NOGO/GO paradigm in conditions of imagery only (IO) and imagery with actual execution (IE). Our initial thoughts were that whereas intention is associated with motivation and commitment to act, age-related differences could impact planning. Results indicated no difference in overall accuracy by condition within groups, and as expected adults were more accurate. These findings support an increasing body of evidence suggesting that the neurocognitive processes (in this case, intention) driving motor imagery and overt actions are similar, and as evidenced here, functioning by age 7.
authors.affiliation: Texas A&M University, United States. Electronic address: http://motordevelopment.tamu.edu/
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabbard
authors.affiliation: University of Texas - Arlington, United States.
authors.forename: Priscila
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caçola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology; D033182:Intention; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Action processing; Intention; Motor imagery