title: Age-related differences in control of a visuomotor coordination task: a preliminary study.
abstract: [Purpose] The purpose of the current study was to examine age-related differences in control of a perception-action coordination skill. We adapted a visuomotor tracking experiment requiring various coordination patterns between a limb's motion and an external signal. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 12 subjects (6 elderly and 6 young) voluntarily participated in the study. The experimental session consisted of 3 trials for 3 different relative phase patterns: 0°, 90°, and 180°, defined by the relationship between the online visual feedback of the joystick motion and the white dot signal. [Results] The 0° and 180° tracking patterns were stable compared with the 90° tracking pattern for both age groups. The present results also showed that the elderly subjects were less stable than were young subjects for all tracking patterns. [Conclusion] The intrinsic coordination dynamics predicted by the Haken-Kelso-Bunz (HKB) mathematical model did not change with age, whereas utilization of visual feedback information declined overall. Further research is needed regarding methods for increasing utilization of visual feedback information from the perspective of rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Science, Catholic University of Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Uk
authors.initials: YU
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Science, Catholic University of Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Catholic University of Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hocheol
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Humanities and Convergent Contents, Ajou University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jungsik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Aging; Coordination; Perception-action