Rôle des afférences proprioceptives dans le développement de l'imagerie motrice chez l'enfant.

Abstract

To which extent is motor imagery (MI) development, commonly observed between the ages of 5 and 9, related to the increasing ability to integrate proprioceptive afferences for the control of action? This question was addressed in a study evaluating MI performance of 108 children aged 5, 7 and 9 years old. A mental chronometry paradigm based on a walking task was used. Integration of proprioceptive information was evaluated by comparing MI performance when children held an external load (5 % of the children weight) to when they did not. Results revealed that the external load affected MI performances of the 5 year olds. In 7 years old, MI performances remained unchanged whether they held an external load or not. At 9 years, holding an external load improved MI performances. Taken together, these results reveal that MI development could be linked to proprioceptive acuity refinement during childhood. These results are discussed according to the relation between MI, proprioceptive development and development of internal models of action during childhood. (PsycINFO Database Record