How far will you go before switching hands? Handedness on the long pegboard across the lifespan.

Handedness is a significant behavioral asymmetry; however, there is debate surrounding the age at which hand preference develops, and little research has been conducted on handedness in older adults. The current study examined performance on the long pegboard, to identify similarities and differences in young children (ages 4-7 years), older children (ages 8-12 years), young adults (ages 18-25 years), and older adults (ages 70+ years). Average time per hole, number of hand switches, and errors were assessed with left- and right-hand starts. A left-right ratio was computed from the long pegboard, along with laterality quotients from the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire (WHQ). Results revealed faster performance when participants started the task on the right side of the long pegboard with the right-hand, coupled with a later switch to the left-hand. There was a greater number of errors with left-hand starts, and an earlier switch to the right-hand. Age was a significant predictor of the average time per hole and number of errors. Long pegboard ratio and WHQ laterality quotient were only correlated for adults. Together, findings offer insight regarding age-related effects in handedness and support the long pegboard as a useful measure of handedness.

Concurrent maturation of visuomotor skills and motion perception in typically-developing children and adolescents.

Perceptual and visuomotor skills undergo considerable development from early childhood into adolescence; however, the concurrent maturation of these skills has not yet been examined. This study assessed visuomotor function and motion perception in a cross-section of 226 typically-developing children between 4 and 16 years of age. Participants were tested on three tasks hypothesized to engage the dorsal visual stream: threading a bead on a needle, marking dots using a pen, and discriminating form defined by motion contrast. Mature performance was reached between 8 and 12 years, with youngest maturation for kinematic measures for a reach-to-grasp task, and oldest maturation for a precision tapping task. Performance on the motion perception task shared no association with motor skills after controlling for age.

Cross-lateralisation in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and motor skill performance.

Cross-lateralisation and increased motor difficulties have been reported in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nevertheless, the question of how crossed (i.e. mixed preference) or uncrossed (i.e. same side preference) lateralisation impacts motor performance in children with ADHD has yet to be examined. In this study, previously validated observational measures of hand and foot preference were used to identify right-handed children with ADHD who display cross- (n = 29) and uncross-lateralisation (n = 31). An uncross-lateralised typically developing (TD) group (n = 32) was also identified, and included as a control. Motor performance was assessed with seven valid and reliable fine and gross motor tasks performed with both preferred and non-preferred limbs. Group, task and sex-related effects were examined. Findings revealed that male (but not female) cross-lateralised children with ADHD performed significantly worse, respectively, in two of the fine motor tasks (spiral tracing [p < .01], and dot filling [p < .05]). Results suggest that cross-lateralised hand and foot preference may affect complex motor skills in male children with ADHD. Furthermore, characteristics of ADHD may manifest differently in male and female children. Findings highlight the importance of considering both hand and foot preference when targeting motor interventions for children with ADHD.

End-state comfort in two object manipulation tasks: Investigating how the movement context influences planning in children, young adults, and older adults.

The movement context (pantomime, pantomime with image/object as guide, and actual use) has been shown to influence end-state comfort-the propensity to prioritize a comfortable final hand position over an initially comfortable one-across the lifespan. The present study aimed to assess how the movement context (pantomime, using a dowel as the tool, and actual use) influences end-state comfort when acting with objects (glass/hammer) that differ in use-dependent experience. Children (ages 6-11, n = 70), young adults (n = 21), and older adults (n = 21) picked up an overturned glass to pour water and a hammer to hit a nail, where the handle faced away from the participant. End-state comfort was assessed in each movement context. Findings provide support for an increase in end-state comfort with age, adult-like patterns at age 10, and no difference between older adults and 8- to 9-year-old children. In addition, this work revealed that perception of "graspability" led to an increase in end-state comfort in the hammering task; therefore, suggesting our ability to act with objects and tools in the environment is influenced by use-dependent experience and object perception. Results add to our understanding of changes in motor planning abilities with age, and factors underlying these changes.

How the mode of action affects evidence of planning and movement kinematics in aging: End-state comfort in older adults.

Motor deficits are commonly observed with age; however, it has been argued that older adults are more adept when acting in natural tasks and do not differ from young adults in these contexts. This study assessed end-state comfort and movement kinematics in a familiar task to examine this further. Left- and right-handed older adults picked up a glass (upright or overturned) as if to pour water in four modes of action (pantomime, pantomime with image/cup as a guide, actual grasping). With increasing age, a longer deceleration phase (in pantomime without a stimulus) and less end-state comfort (in pantomime without a stimulus and image as a guide) was displayed as the amount of contextual information available to guide movement decreased. Changes in movement strategies likely reflect an increased reliance on feedback control and demonstration of a more cautious movement. A secondary aim of this study was to assess hand preference and performance, considering conflicting reports of manual asymmetries with age. Performance differences in the Grooved Pegboard place task indicate left handers may display a shift towards right handedness in some, but not all cases. Summarizing, this study supports age-related differences in planning and control processes in a familiar task, and changes in manual asymmetries with age in left handers.

The influence of M. P. Bryden's work on lateralization of motor skill: Is the preferred hand selected for and better at tasks requiring a high degree of skill?

One question of interest to Dr M. P. Bryden was how skilled motor behaviour, task complexity, and the degree of handedness are linked. His research suggested that there would be dissociation between hand preference and performance for skilled versus unskilled actions. The thought was that "simple" or unskilled tasks such reaching or grasping could be performed equally well by either hand, and thus either could be selected. Skilled tasks such as fine manipulation would be performed best by the preferred hand and thus it would be selected more frequently. Over the past two decades, researchers have attempted to determine whether such a definition of skilled action best encapsulates the specialization of the preferred hand. The current paper will review M. P. Bryden's research on skilled motor behaviour, as well as more recent work, and explore the question of whether the preferred hand is actually superior and preferred for actions requiring manipulation.

The Tapley and Bryden test of performance differences between the hands: The original data, newer data, and the relation to pegboard and other tasks.

Tapley and Bryden (T&B)'s 1985 circle-marking task is a group-administered task assessing performance differences between the hands. The bimodal distribution clearly separates self-described right- and left-handers. Using Phil's original datafiles we analyse the test in more detail, providing raw scores for each hands which are useful forensically, and we provide reliability estimates. Van Horn's unpublished 1992 PhD thesis studied T&B tasks and Annett pegboards varying in difficulty. A striking finding, that Phil Bryden called "the Van Horn problem," was that hand differences (R - L) were unrelated to task difficulty. That result was the starting point for Pamela Bryden's 1998 thesis, firstly replicating Van Horn, but then showing that task difficulty did relate to hand differences for Grooved pegboards. Pamela Bryden's model for those effects is presented here. Comparing across tasks, the T&B and pegboard tasks showed almost complete consistency for direction of handedness. Likewise, within each task, degree of handedness intercorrelated strongly across variants. In strong contrast, degree of handedness for T&B tasks showed minimal correlation with degree of handedness for pegboards. At the highest level, therefore, direction of handedness is consistent within individuals (conventional right and left handedness), but there are separable processes determining dominant-non-dominant hands differences for each particular task.

Does your dominant hand become less dominant with time? The effects of aging and task complexity on hand selection.

The present article examines the lateralization of hand use throughout the lifespan with an emphasis on aging beyond adulthood. The experimental paradigm utilizes a novel observational method to determine the effects of task complexity, a currently misunderstood factor in hand selection. Current literature is contradictory in that some suggest an increase in motor dominance with age, while more recent work has suggested an approach to ambidexterity. Cross-sectional samples of 80 participants (20 between 2 and 4 years, 20 between 10 and 14 years, 20 between 18 and 25 years, 20 over 65 years) were asked to complete the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire, Tapley-Bryden Dot Marking Task, and the newly designed Task Complexity Gradient. Contrary to previous suggestions, the current findings suggest neither an increase or decrease in laterality, but that motor dominance remains consistent throughout adulthood. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of motor dominance throughout the lifespan and the factors that determine hand selection.

The development of end- and beginning-state comfort in a cup manipulation task.

End-state comfort (ESC) is the tendency to assume comfortable postures at the end of simple object manipulation rather than at the start; and therefore has been used to assess the behavioral effects of motor planning. Adult-like patterns have been observed at age 9. Observations can extend to joint-action, such that adults consider the beginning-state comfort (BSC) of another, without sacrificing ESC; however, trends in children have yet to be delineated. This study investigated the development of ESC and BSC in a cup manipulation task. Three to 12-year-olds and adults were asked to pick up a cup and (1) pour a glass of water or (2) pass it to the researcher to pour. Paralleling previous findings, adult-like patterns of ESC were observed at age 9. Adding to the literature, adult-like evidence of BSC emerged at the age of 7. Therefore, 7-year-olds consider another's BSC; however, cannot facilitate ESC until age 9.

Classroom Activity Breaks Improve On-Task Behavior and Physical Activity Levels Regardless of Time of Day.

Classroom physical activity breaks (CAB) are beneficial for increasing children's physical activity (PA) levels as well as the amount of time spent being on-task within the classroom. Purpose: To examine the effect of CAB at different times within the school day on on-task behavior and PA levels in primary school (grade 1-3) children. Methods: Thirty-five children (6 ± 1 y, 22 = male, 13 = female) participated in four conditions in a randomized order: morning (AM), afternoon (PM), morning and afternoon (BOTH), and no CAB (CTRL). CAB followed a traditional Tabata format of 20 s work and 10 s rest repeated 8 times for a total of 4 min. PA levels were monitored (accelerometry). On-task behavior and three types of off-task (motor, verbal, passive) were recorded following each CAB (mobile application). Results: When compared to control, AM, PM, and BOTH increased on-task behavior AM: Δ10.4%, PM: Δ10.5%, BOTH: Δ14%; p < .001). AM was most beneficial for reducing off-task motor (Δ-6.5%) and off-task verbal (Δ-3%) behavior, while PM was most beneficial for reducing off-task passive (Δ-9%) behavior. These effects were greatest in those students demonstrating higher amounts off-task behavior during CTRL (r > 0.67, p < .001). Students achieved an additional 8.4 (p = .070; d = 0.93), 12.2 (p < .001, d = 0.49), and 6.3 min (p = .09, d = 0.47) of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) over 24 h following a CAB vs CTRL in AM, PM, and BOTH, respectively. Additionally, performing any of the CAB conditions increased the number of steps taken during the school day by an average of 2007 steps (p < .009). Conclusion: Overall, these results demonstrate that CAB improve both on-task behavior and PA levels, regardless of time of day. However, performing two CAB (BOTH) is recommended to derive the greatest improvements in on-task behavior across the school day.

All in the Family: Living With ADNP Syndrome.

PURPOSE: The overarching purpose of this research was to examine the experiences of 1 family living with a child with Helsmoortel-Van Der Aa syndrome or activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) syndrome. DESIGN: A retrospective qualitative design was used for this study. METHODS: Two primary caregivers for a 5-year-old child with ADNP syndrome completed background questionnaires to provide context for semistructured interviews. Each caregiver completed 2 interviews, approximately 2 months apart. Field notes, member checks, and triangulation were used to enhance the credibility of the study. RESULTS: This article summarizes the theme "All in the Family." Having a child with ADNP syndrome affected all aspects of family life. Participants revealed that family dynamics were shaped by experiences stemming from their living arrangements and caregiving responsibilities. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this research highlighted the need for increased support for families faced with ADNP syndrome, as well as the role clinical nurse specialists can play in the lives of caregivers faced with such a rare diagnosis. Furthermore, given the paucity of ADNP syndrome information, the need for more research is warranted.

Influences of task complexity, object location, and object type on hand selection in reaching in left and right-handed children and adults.

The effects of task complexity, object location, and object type on reaching behavior were examined. Two hundred ninety-two right-handed and 38 left-handed participants (grouped into five age groups) were asked to pick up or pick up and use objects in different regions of peripersonal space. It was found that individuals used their nonpreferred-hand more often in contralateral space than at the midline position. Using an object resulted in significantly more preferred-hand reaches than picking up an object. Furthermore, task complexity, object location, and object type interacted with each other depending upon age group and hand preference.

Under what conditions will right-handers use their left hand? The effects of object orientation, object location, arm position, and task complexity in preferential reaching.

When reaching to objects, it is known that the preferred hand is selected significantly more often for midline and ipsilateral reaches, although right-handers are more likely to continue to use their right hand to reach for an object in contralateral space (Mamolo, Roy, Rohr, & Bryden, 2006). The current study examined the influence of object orientation, object location, task complexity, and initial position of the hands on a reaching task in a sample of 45 right-handed adults. Participants reached to and picked up a mug oriented in one of three ways (handle to right, left, or neutral position) located in one of three spatial positions (left, right, and midline) from each of two starting hand positions: right hand over left, and vice versa. Along with the expected results, an interesting pattern emerged where both the orientation of the object and the position of the hands had significant effects on hand selection, such that the use of the non-preferred left hand was augmented in conditions where preferred-hand use was awkward and biomechanically inefficient. The results will be discussed in light of current theories accounting for hand selection preferences.

Investigating the Efficacy of the Hand Selection Complexity Task Across the Lifespan.

There is inconsistent evidence demonstrating a relationship between task complexity and hand preference. However, analyzing the point at which task complexity overrides the decision to demonstrate a biomechanically efficient movement can enable complexity to be quantified. Young children (ages 3-7), adolescents (ages 8-12), young adults (ages 18-25), and older adults (ages 65+) performed a newly developed Hand Selection Complexity Task (HSCT) and completed the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire (WHQ). The HSCT included a reciprocal Fitts' tapping task performed in the contralateral space (i.e., same side as preferred hand), followed by ipsilateral space (i.e., opposite side of preferred hand). An alternating contralateral-ipsilateral pattern enabled the participant to progress through six levels of difficulty in three conditions (manipulating target amplitude, width, and combined factors). As participants were free to perform with whichever hand (i.e., preferred, non-preferred) they deemed most appropriate, the level of difficulty where a hand switch occurred was identified. HSCT completion time and error scores were also computed. Findings revealed age to be a significant predictor of dependent measures when considering significant effects and interactions. Combined with the covariate WHQ score as a significant predictor of HSCT time and errors (in some, but not all cases), it can be argued that age-related effects reflect the development of handedness, and changes in strength of handedness across the lifespan. Together, findings suggest that task complexity plays an important role in hand selection when performing a task of increasing difficulty. It appears that task complexity will take precedent over object proximity and biomechanical efficiency, at a certain point, in order to complete the movement with the preferred hand. This point ultimately changes throughout the lifespan.

Scoping Review: Physical Activity and Social Functioning in Young People With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects ~1 in 59 people in North America and diagnoses continue to rise (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). Unfortunately, the exact cause of ASD is unknown and therapy remains the primary means of intervention. People with ASD experience social and behavioral deficits associated with the disorder, which affect all aspects of life such as academics, relationships, and physical activity. Research has shown a relationship between physical activity and social skills in typically developing individuals; however, this relationship is less understood in people with ASD. The purpose of this scoping review was to uncover what is known about ASD, physical activity, and social functioning. The authors searched four databases and included 40 primary research articles in the review, most of which demonstrated a relationship between physical activity and social functioning for people with ASD. The relationship appears bidirectional: social functioning influences physical activity (to a lesser extent) and physical activity influences social functioning (to a greater extent). Regrettably, there were many limitations in these articles, such as small sample sizes and the under-representation of females and adults. Therefore, the review highlights several directions for future research.

Hand selection in a preferential reaching task: The effects of object location, orientation, and task intention in preadolescent children.

INTRODUCTION AND METHODS: Hand selection was assessed in preadolescent children (ages 9-11) within a preferential reaching task to delineate the effects of object location, orientation, and task intention on the assessment procedure and compared to data previously acquired from young adults. RESULTS: The observed differences support the notion that children are still in a process of refining their movements in attempt to discern the most efficient and effective patterns of behavior. Notwithstanding differences in performance, similarities between preadolescents and young adults also emerged. Greater right-hand selection in right space and when the handle was oriented to the right indicate that object proximity and orientation influence efficiency and thus constrain hand selection in unimanual object manipulation and role-differentiated bimanual manipulation. CONCLUSIONS: Together, findings add to our understanding of hand preference, unimanual and bimanual object manipulation.

End-State Comfort Across the Lifespan: A Cross-Sectional Investigation of How Movement Context Influences Motor Planning in an Overturned Glass Task.

Young adults plan actions in advance to minimize the cost of movement. This is exemplified by the end-state comfort (ESC) effect. A pattern of improvement in ESC in children is linked to the development of cognitive control processes, and decline in older adults is attributed to cognitive decline. This study used a cross-sectional design to examine how movement context (pantomime, demonstration with image/glass as a guide, actual grasping) influences between-hand differences in ESC planning. Children (5- to 12-year-olds), young adults, and two groups of older adults (aged 60-70, and aged 71 and older) were assessed. Findings provide evidence for adult-like patterns of ESC in 8-year-olds. Results are attributed to improvements in proprioceptive acuity and proficiency in generating and implementing internal representations of action. For older adults early in the aging process, sensitivity to ESC did not differ from young adults. However, with increasing age, differences reflect challenges in motor planning with increases in cognitive demand, similar to previous work. Findings have implications for understanding lifespan motor behavior.

Sex differences in the end-state comfort effect in pre-adolescent children.

There has been recent interest in the developmental trajectory of the end-state comfort effect (ESCE) in young children. However, potential sex differences have yet to be examined in the overturned glass task. We examined the ESCE using this task in a large sample (N=232) of typically-developing elementary school children (111 girls, 121 boys) in grades 1-5 (approximately 7-11years old). We sought to determine whether there were similarities or differences in performance between boys and girls. Children picked up an overturned drinking glass from a table, turned the glass upright, and then poured water into it from a measuring cup. Three trials were performed, and the use of an initial awkward thumb-down grip to pick up the glass was taken as evidence for the ESCE. There were non-significant main effects for sex and grade, but a significant interaction between factors. Boys increased in sensitivity to end-state comfort across the five grades while girls showed a decrease from grades 1-3, followed by an increase between grades 3 and 5. Taken together, the results indicate the presence of adult-like motor planning for the overturned glass task by the 4th grade (i.e., age 10), but also suggest the presence of a motor reorganization in girls, at around the 2nd or 3rd grade (i.e., 8 or 9years of age).

Examining gender differences in the health behaviors of Canadian university students.

UNLABELLED: The relationship between lifestyle choices and health outcomes has been an area of interest for many health professionals. Gender differences in these choices have also been an area of scrutiny. AIMS: The purpose of the present investigation was to examine gender differences in the health and lifestyle behavioral choices of Canadian university students. METHODS: A total of 638 (472 female and 166 male) undergraduate students were evaluated. RESULTS: Males and females differed significantly in their responses to appraisals of general state of health, hours/day engaged in social activities, frequency of drinking alcohol, amount of alcohol consumed per session, total number of sexual partners, number of meals eaten per day, participation in physical activity, completion of annual check-ups with doctor, screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and hypertension screening. Generally, men engaged in more risky health behaviors than females (e.g. alcohol use). CONCLUSION: Results are discussed in terms of cultural comparisons to previous research studies evaluating college health behaviors. Suggestions are made for health professionals to incorporate gender differences in behavioral change programmes geared towards improving awareness of the consequences of lifestyle choices.

Anticipatory Planning in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Assessment of Independent and Joint Action Tasks.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Although not a diagnostic feature, motor impairments have been recently acknowledged as prevalent and significant, such that these children have difficulties planning, organizing and coordinating movements. This study aimed to further investigate anticipatory motor planning in children with ASD by means of assessing end- and beginning-state comfort, considering inconsistent reports of end-state comfort in independent action, and the study of beginning-state comfort being limited to one study with young adults. Five- to eleven-year-old children with ASD, and chronologically age- and sex-matched typically-developing children picked-up a glass and: (1) poured a cup of water; and (2) passed it to the researcher to pour a cup of water. End-state comfort was deemed evident if participants grasped the glass thumb-down followed by a 180° rotation; therefore ending with a thumb-up posture. Beginning-state comfort was deemed evident if participants passed the glass to the researcher oriented upright. Findings revealed less end-state comfort in children with ASD, attributed to motor planning deficits. Beginning-state comfort did not differ, ascribed to the habitual nature of the task; therefore reflecting a stimulus-driven response as opposed to an action which reflects anticipatory planning. The findings support difficulties with motor planning and control for children with ASD in an independent task. However, when acting with a familiar object in joint action, behavior does not differ, likely indicative of a habitual, stimulus-driven response.