Co-regulation of movement speed and accuracy by children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure

Percept Mot Skills. 2011 Feb;112(1):172-82. doi: 10.2466/04.10.13.PMS.112.1.172-182.

Abstract

The study investigated how children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure regulate movement speed and accuracy during goal-directed movements. 16 children ages 7 to 17 years with confirmed histories of heavy in utero alcohol exposure, and 21 nonalcohol-exposed control children completed a series of reciprocal tapping movements between two spatial targets. 5 different targets sets were presented, representing a range of task difficulty between 2 and 6 bits of information. Estimates of percent error rate, movement time, slope, and linear fit of the resulting curve confirmed that for goal-directed, reciprocal tapping responses, performance of the group with prenatal alcohol exposure was described by a linear function, as predicted by Fitts' law, by sacrificing movement accuracy. The index of performance was the same for the two groups: it initially increased, then leveled off for more difficult movements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Ethanol / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / diagnosis
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Movement / physiology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / physiopathology*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*

Substances

  • Ethanol