Bimanual skill acquisition : modulation by sex, aging, and auditory feedback

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Date
2010
Authors
Metzler, Megan J.
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscience, c2010
Abstract
Bimanual movement is integral to daily function. As such, it is important to understand factors that influence bimanual performance. Playing the piano was employed to examine bimanual movement. Additionally, the weather prediction task was administered as a measure of non-declarative learning. Sex influenced motor performance. Males tended to perform asymmetrical movements with less skill than females. Age affected motor performance. Older adults were less proficient, but improved similarly with practice as young adults. Further, older adults exhibited differential deterioration of bimanual movement. Feedback and music training affected motor performance. Females performed bimanual movement less proficiently with auditory feedback. Individuals with music training performed bimanual movements relative to unimanual movements better with feedback. Music training moderated age-related differential deterioration of bimanual movements. Older adults performed significantly worse than young adults on the weather prediction task. In addition, the weather prediction task correlated with motor measures in a sample including older adults.
Description
xii, 159 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm
Keywords
Motor ability -- Research , Perceptual-motor processes -- Research , Eye-hand coordination -- Research , Dissertations, Academic
Citation