Age Differences in the Maintenance and Restructuring of Movement Preparation

Authors

Paul Amrhein, Montclair State UniversityFollow
George Stelmach, Arizona State UniversityFollow
Noreen Goggin, National University of Ireland, GalwayFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 9-1-1991

Journal / Book Title

Psychology and Aging

Abstract

In 2 experiments, 56 elderly (aged 65–78 yrs) and young Ss (aged 20–28 yrs) performed simple reaction time (RT), choice RT, and movement plan restructuring tasks, using a stimulus precuing paradigm. In Exp 1, the precue display (200 ms) and preparation interval (250, 500, 750, or 1,000 ms) were experimentally determined. In Exp 2, the precue display interval was S determined. For the restructuring task, the precue specified the response on 75% of the trials, enabling movement plan preparation with respect to movement parameters of arm and direction. On remaining trials, the precue incorrectly specified the response, requiring movement plan restructuring. Elderly, but not young, Ss restructured a movement plan for direction more quickly than for arm or for both parameters. These findings indicate that elderly individuals have poorer movement plan maintenance for direction than for arm and thus exhibit functional change in movement preparation processes relative to young individuals.

DOI

DOI: 10.1037/0882-7974.6.3.451

MSU Digital Commons Citation

Amrhein, Paul; Stelmach, George; and Goggin, Noreen, "Age Differences in the Maintenance and Restructuring of Movement Preparation" (1991). Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 29.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/psychology-facpubs/29

Published Citation

Amrhein, Paul C., George E. Stelmach, and Noreen L. Goggin. "Age differences in the maintenance and restructuring of movement preparation." Psychology and aging 6, no. 3 (1991): 451.