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Memory pointing in children and adults: dissociations in the maturation of spatial and temporal movement parameters

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Abstract

In previous studies a systematic directional error (the “motor oblique effect”) was found in 2D memory pointing movements of healthy adults. In this study we extend these observations to observe that healthy children displayed the same motor oblique effect. In contrast other spatial and temporal movement parameters (mean amplitude error, square directional and amplitude error, latency and the time to maximum velocity) changed with increasing age. Memory delay increased the square directional and amplitude error independent of age. Finally failure of movement inhibition during the delay was more frequent in children compared to adults. These results favor the hypothesis that the motor oblique effect related to perceptual processing biases is constant from childhood while other movement parameters are modulated by age reflecting the continuing optimization of motor control from childhood to adulthood. The dissociation of memory and age effects suggests that motor working memory is already mature in young children.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by internal funding from Aeginition University Hospital.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cognition and Action Group, Neurology Department, Medical School, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    George Pantes, Asimakis Mantas & Ioannis Evdokimidis

  2. Cognition and Action Group, Neurology Department, Medical School, Aeginition Hospital, National University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Nikolaos Smyrnis

  3. Psychiatry Department, Medical School, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 74 V. Sofias Ave, 11528, Athens, Greece

    Nikolaos Smyrnis

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  1. George Pantes
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  2. Asimakis Mantas
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  3. Ioannis Evdokimidis
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  4. Nikolaos Smyrnis
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Correspondence to Nikolaos Smyrnis.

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Pantes, G., Mantas, A., Evdokimidis, I. et al. Memory pointing in children and adults: dissociations in the maturation of spatial and temporal movement parameters. Exp Brain Res 196, 319–328 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-1850-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-1850-1

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