Summary
The development of anticipatory control during lifts with the precision grip was examined in 100 children aged 1 to 15 years and in 15 adults. The children were instructed to lift an instrumented test object by using the precision grip between the thumb and index finger. The employed grip force, load force (vertical lifting force), vertical position and their corresponding time derivatives (i.e., grip and load force rates and acceleration) were recorded. The weight of the object was varied between trials to access the influence of the object's weight in the previous trial on the isometric force output. Already by the second year, children began to use information pertaining to the object's weight in the previous lift, i.e., they began to use an anticipatory control strategy. This occurred concomitant to the development of mainly bell shaped force rate profiles (Forssberg et al. 1991). The succeeding development of a more mature anticipatory control was gradual and adult-like capacity was not reached until 8–11 years of age.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bizzi E, Abend W (1983) Posture control of trajectory information in single- and multi-joint arm movements. In: Desmedt RE (ed) Motor control mechanisms in health and disease. Adv Neurol 39:31–45
Brooks VB (1984) How are “move” and “hold” programs matched. In: Bloedel et al (ed) Cerebellar functions. Springer, Berlin, pp 1–23
Forssberg H, Eliasson AC, Kinoshita H, Johansson RS, Westling C (1991) Development of human precision grip I. Basic coordination of forces. Exp Brain Res 85: 451–457
Forssberg H, Nashner LM (1982) Ontogenetic development of postural control in man: adaptation to altered support and visual conditions during stance. Neuroscience 2: 545–552
Gachoud JP, Mounoud P, Hauert CA, Viviani P (1983) Motor strategies in lifting movements: a comparison of adult and child performance. J Motor Behav 15: 202–215
Gordon AM, Forssberg H, Johansson RS, Westling G (1991a) Integration of sensory information during the programming of precision grip: comments on the contributions of size cues. Exp Brain Res 85: 226–229
Gordon AM, Forssberg H, Johansson RS, Westling G (1991b) The integration of haptically acquired size information in the programming of precision grip. Exp Brain Res 83: 483–488
Hofsten C von, Rönnqvist L (1988) Preparation for grasping an object: a developmental study. J Exp Psychol 4: 610–621
Johansson RS, Westling C (1987) Signals in tactile afferents from the fingers eliciting adaptive motor responses during precision grip. Exp Brain Res 66: 141–154
Johansson RS, Westling G (1988) Coordinated isometric muscle commands adequately and erroneously programmed for the weight during lifting task with precision grip. Exp Brain Res 71: 59–71
Johansson RS (1991) How is grasping modified by somatosensory input? In: Humphrey DR, Freund HJ (eds) Motor Control: Concepts and Issues. Dahlem Konferenzen. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester, pp 331–355
Shumway-Cook A, Woollacott MH (1985) The growth of stability: postural control from a developmental perspective. J Motor Behav 17: 131–147
Touwen B (1978) Variability and stereotypy in normal and deviant development. In: Touwen B (ed) Neurological Development in infancy. SIMP and Heinemann Med Books, London, pp 99–110
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Correspondence to: Department of Pediatrics
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Forssberg, H., Kinoshita, H., Eliasson, A.C. et al. Development of human precision grip. Exp Brain Res 90, 393–398 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00227253
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00227253