Factors influencing motor imagery in children

Abstract

Developmental disorder is widely recognized as communication and learning disabilities. However, motor development should also be meticulously evaluated. Some reports have indicated that children with motor developmental disabilities show lack of skill and stiffness. In particular, there are numerous reports on awkwardness of motor imagery. However, the maturity process of motor imagery has not been fully clarified. The present study was designed to comprehend factors influencing motor imagery in children. Approval for this study was granted by the Ethics Committee of Tokyo Metropolitan University. The subjects were 96 healthy elementary school students (male:58, female:38, mean age:8.7, SD = 1.9) without any specific diagnosis,. They were asked for their age, and the average time spent on a sport every day. The motor imagery of these children was estimated by the following methods. The motor imagery was evaluated by expected walking time. First, the children indicated their expected time to walk 8 m. Next, their actual walking time is measured. The difference between these times was assigned as a dependent variable. The age and the average time spent on a sport were assigned independent variables. The relations between the dependent variable and independent variables were analyzed using the Pearson's methods. The significance level was set at 10%. The children's expected time was as follows. Expected time: mean 6.9 sec, SD= 2.3. Actual walking time: mean 7.3 s, SD= 1.8. The difference between these times (prediction error): mean 1.6 s, SD= 1.3. The correlative analysis showed that the correlation coefficient between age and prediction error was −0.3 ( P < 0.1); the correlation coefficient between the average time spent on a sport and prediction error was −0.2 ( P < 0.1). The results of the present study suggested that motor image maturity correlates with the children's age. In addition, daily experience in sport influences motor image maturity.