Sensorimotor testing in children

This preliminary study investigated behaviorally the performance of a sample of young twins in a set of classical visuomotor tasks. The assessment was carried out using a small haptic interface used to produce force and record the hand trajectory during the execution of tasks requiring rapid and precise movements. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensorimotor development across a wide age-range (6-13 years) in which dramatic changes in sensorimotor integration and motor skills occur. A mixed-effect analysis was performed in order to evaluate age-related effects and to check for reduction of residual variability within twins with respect to variability across all pairs of twins. We report both an effect of age and of parenthood when considering reaction times and control of position of the hand under perturbed environment. The ability of tracking a moving target and the velocity of information processing show a dependence on age but not on the parenthood factor. This study validates the methodology used to investigate the age effects on the motor behavior of children and promises to provide new insights in twin-studies.