A comparison of force adaptation in toddlers and adults during a drawer opening task.

ABSTRACT: Adapting movements to rapidly changing conditions is fundamental for interacting with our dynamic environment. This adaptability relies on internal models that predict and evaluate sensory outcomes to adjust motor commands. Even infants anticipate object properties for efficient grasping, suggesting the use of internal models. However, how internal models are adapted in early childhood remains largely unexplored. This study investigated a naturalistic force adaptation task in 1.5-, 3-year-olds, and young adults. Participants opened a drawer with temporarily increased resistance, creating sensory prediction errors between predicted and actual drawer dynamics. After perturbation, all age groups showed lower peak speed, longer movement time, and more movement units with trial-wise changes ana

SUBMITTER: Faßbender L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11779916 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature