Age and task-related differences in timing stability, consistency, and natural frequency of children's rhythmic, motor coordination

Abstract

How does task complexity affect performance in a rhythmic movement task across childhood and into adulthood? The purpose of this experiment was to compare the frequency, stability, and consistency of clapping and walking when these tasks were produced individually and simultaneously by children of different ages. Statistically significant differences were found in natural frequency, stability, and consistency between tasks, limb actions, and among age groups. The results indicated that action-dependent, age-related differences existed. Further, task-related differences existed in these measures that were constant across age groups. This suggested that the role of task was as important as changing morphologies in determining action characteristics across childhood.

Development of dynamic stability in children's rhythmic movement

“…We also observed a developmental trend where a decrease in cycle period variability was related to age, similar to mean movement frequency. This finding mirrors that of previous studies that have found motor variability to decrease over the course of development (Deutsch & Newell, 2005;Getchell, 2006;Goldfield et al, 1993). An age-related reduction in cycle period variability is also consistent with previous findings of increased rhythmicity in whole-body movements such as skipping and galloping (see Haywood & Getchell, 2009;Payne & Isaacs, 2007).…”

“…The age-related reduction of rocking frequency is consistent with the findings of Jensen and Nassas (1988) and Getchell (2006) who showed decreases in preferred movement frequency as body dimensions increased with developmental age. Previous studies on the development of whole body movements (e.g., skipping, galloping and hopping) have also found decreased movement frequency with increasing age (see Haywood & Getchell, 2009;Payne & Isaacs, 2007 for reviews).…”

“…Given this theoretical relation, one would expect to observe a developmental trend where preferred movement frequency of a given effector system decreases due to the greater limb length associated with increments of age. This relation that has been observed empirically in conjunction with age-related increases in body dimensions (Getchell, 2006;Jensen & Nassas, 1988). A consequence is that the growing child would have to continually ''re-tune'' to a new resonant frequency of the limb or body segment concomitant with the change in body dimensions.…”

“…This natural ability to ''tune'' movement in action to the properties of the task and the environment is essential to the development of sensorimotor performance (Getchell, 2006;Thelen & Fisher, 1982). Evidence suggests that children tune their actions as early as infancy.…”

“…The goal of this experiment was to examine the interacting influence of age-related developmental changes and environmental support on the dynamics of a rhythmic body movement performed at a preferred frequency. Three outcomes were predicted for this experiment: (1) preferred rocking frequency would decrease with increments of age (Getchell, 2006;Jensen & Nassas, 1988); (2) timing variability would be found to decrease in conjunction with increases in stability of the rocking pattern with age (e.g., Deutsch & Newell, 2005;Getchell, 2006;Goldfield et al, 1993); and (3) increment of age was expected to result in a reduced effect of the foot support on the movement patterns, given that behavioral patterns become stabilized with age (Muchisky et al, 1996;Newell, Liu, & Mayer-Kress, 2003).…”