Highs and Lows in Motor Control Development

Abstract

Motor control is classically described as relying on two components: anticipatory control (feedforward processing) and online control (feedback processing). Here we aimed to unveil the developmental steps of both feedback and feedforward control in 5–10 years old children, using a simple and ecological task. We manipulated object’s weight in a reach-to-displace paradigm. When the weight was known before lifting it, anticipatory processes were quantifiable during the reaching phase. Conversely, an unknown weight triggered online corrections during the displacing phase. Movement kinematics revealed that children anticipate this objet property as young as 5 y-o. This anticipation becomes adequate around 7 y-o and is paralleled by poor online corrections. This simple yet relevant paradigm should allow quantifying deviations from neurotypical patterns in disorders of motor control.

Keywords:

• Reach-and-grasp
• anticipatory control
• online control
• children
• motor development
• kinematics

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the children and families for their participation. This research has received the support from the ANR Samenta (ASD-BARN 01502) and the ANR Developmental Tool Mastery. MM was supported by a grant from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.