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Age-Related Differences in a Kinematic Analysis of Precued Movements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Noreen L. Goggin  and
George E. Stelmach
Noreen L. Goggin
Affiliation:
The University of North Texas
George E. Stelmach
Affiliation:
Arizona State University
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Abstract

An experiment is reported that examines kinematic measures, reaction time and response preparation differences between young and older adults, and movement response parameters in a precueing paradigm. Ten young and ten older adults performed 5 cm or 10 cm horizontal movements to the left or right with an electronic pen on a digitizing tablet. The precue (advance information) provided information about direction, extent, or both parameters. Dependent measures of reaction time (RT), movement time (MT), peak velocity, peak acceleration, peak deceleration, and their respective time values were analysed. The results indicate that young adults were significantly different on all dependent measures. Advance precue information was advantageous for all subjects as RT was faster when advance information was provided. In addition, both groups of subjects produced higher peak velocities when provided advance information about both direction and extent. Examination of the kinematics indicate that older adults produce movement patterns which display different response characteristics such as accelerating less rapidly and displaying a prolonged deceleration phase. Finally, older adults are less efficient than young adults at scaling velocity and acceleration over time between long and short movements when spatial accuracy constraints are minimal.

Résumé

RÉSUMÉ

Cet article rend compte d'une étude qui a examiné les différences entre adultes, jeunes et vieux, au niveau des mesures kinétiques, des réactions de temps (RT) et de la préparation à répondre ainsi que les paramètres de réponse de mouvement dans un cadre où les participants ont reçu des pré-indications. Dix jeunes adultes et dix plus âgés ont effectué des mouvements horizontaux mesurant 5 cm ou 10 cm vers la gauche ou vers la droite à l'aide d'une plume électronique sur une tablette digitalisée. Les pré-indications (renseignements reçus au préalable) portaient sur la direction, la longueur, ou bien les deux paramètres. Les différentes mesures dépendantes, dont le temps de réaction (RT), le temps de mouvement (MT), la vitesse maximum, l'accélération maximum, la délcélération maximum, et leurs valeurs de temps respectives ont été analysées. Selon les résultats, les jeunes ont réagi avec une différence marquée, et ce à tous les niveaux. Tous ont bénéficié des pré-indications puisque le RT était plus rapide lorsque des pré-indications étaient fournies. De plus, les deux groupes de sujets ont réussi à atteindre une meilleure vitesse maximale lorsqu'ils disposaient de pré-indications sur la direction et la longueur. Une étude kinématique démontre que les adultes âgés effectuent des mouvements qui dénotent des caractéristiques de réponse différentes, par exemple une accélération moins rapide et une phase de décélération prolongée. Enfin, les adultes âgés sont moins adeptes que les plus jeunes lorsqu'il s'agit d'ajuster pendant une période de temps la vélocité et l'accélération entre les mouvements longs et courts lorsque les contraintes de l'exactitude spatiale sont minimales.

Keywords

AgingPrecueingKinematics.
Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 9 , Issue 4 , Winter/hiver 1990 , pp. 371 - 385
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1990

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Footnotes

1

Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion, and Recreation, The University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203

*

This work was supported by grant number AG05154-01 from the U.S. Public Health Service awarded to George E. Stelmach. The research was completed while the first author was at The University of Wisconsin.

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