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

Abstract

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.

Kinematic characteristics of second‐order motor planning and performance in 6‐ and 10‐year‐old children and adults: Effects of age and task constraints

“…As expected (e.g., Kuhtz-Buschbeck et al, 1998), significant differences in kinematic outcomes between the groups were found at each of the four movement phases investigated (onset latency, reach-to-grasp, grasp, transport-to-fit). In accordance with the suggested developmental trend for action organization (Jongbloed-Pereboom et al, 2013;Rosenbaum et al, ;Scharoun Benson et al, 2018;Stöckel et al, 2012;van Swieten et al, 2010;Wilmut & Byrne, 2014;Wunsch et al, 2016), less efficient movement organization related to task performance was found in the children than in the adults. More specifically, the 10-year-olds mainly differed from the adults regarding kinematic parameters associated with motor planning, whilst the 6-year-olds differed regarding parameters related to both motor planning and control.…”

“…Improvements in goal‐directed upper‐limb movement organization have been suggested related to the development of motor planning (Simon‐Martinez et al, ), also supported by observations of a parallel developmental trajectory for motor planning abilities between 3 and 12 years of age according to the end state comfort effect (ESC; Jongbloed‐Pereboom, Nijhuis‐van der Sanden, Saraber‐Schiphorst, Crajé, & Steenbergen, ; Rosenbaum et al, ; Scharoun Benson et al, ; Stöckel, Hughes, & Schack, ; van Swieten et al, ; Wilmut & Byrne, ; Wunsch, Pfister, Henning, Aschersleben, & Weigelt, ). A few studies have investigated planning aspects within the framework of goal‐directed reach‐to‐grasp kinematics in children, although with some inconsistency.…”

“…Scharoun Benson, Roy, & Bryden, 2018) and 10-year-olds (typically showing practically adult-like planning ability in ESC tasks, cf. Scharoun Benson et al, 2018) compared with adults.…”

“…In this study, the kinematics of “reach‐to‐grasp” and “transport‐to‐fit” (accurate online fitting of an object into a goal slot) performance are evaluated, adding a kinematic characterization of second‐order motor planning and performance in 6‐year‐olds (an age when children typically show limited planning ability in ESC tasks, cf. Scharoun Benson, Roy, & Bryden, ) and 10‐year‐olds (typically showing practically adult‐like planning ability in ESC tasks, cf. Scharoun Benson et al, ) compared with adults.…”

Age-group differences in beginning-state comfort reveal an increase in motor planning capabilities

“…The current study aimed to increase knowledge of joint action object manipulation through the assessment of children, young adults (YAs), and older adults (OAs). Building upon Scharoun Benson, Roy, and Bryden’s (2018) work assessing independent manipulation, participants performed two joint action tasks (pickup and pass; pickup and pass for use) with two objects that differ in use-dependent experience (glass and hammer). Two movement contexts (demonstration with a dowel; actual object use) were assessed.…”