Lateralized Effects on Reaching by Children

Abstract

This study examined the limb selection profiles of children for a reach-to-grasp task presented in various positions of hemispace. Underlying questions focused on the use of attentional information and lateralized effects in motor programming for reaching movements. As expected, both right- and left-handed groups used their dominant limb more frequently at the midline and in their own ipsilateral hemispace. However, in response to stimuli presented in contralateral (to the dominant limb) hemispace, both groups switched to using their nondominant limbs at significant levels. As a general comparison, right-handers exhibited greater use of their dominant limb, but arguably, motor dominance in this context may have intervened with the participant's ability to use attentional information to produce a more efficient response. Overall, these findings address the phenomenon associated with motor dominance and use of attentional information in programming.