Large reaching datasets quantify the impact of age, sex/gender, and experience on motor control.

ABSTRACT: As we age, our movements become slower and less precise-but the extent of this decline remains unclear. To address this, we harmonized data from 2390 participants across four published studies using a standard center-out reaching task. We found that older age was associated with a steady decline in reaction time (-1.3 ms/year), movement time (-4.3 ms/year), and movement precision (-0.04°/year). Although the rate of decline did not differ by sex/gender, females consistently reacted more slowly (-6.4 ms), moved more slowly (-44.6 ms), and exhibited greater precision ( + 0.6°) across the adult lifespan. Using the dataset that included experiential measures, we found that sex/gender differences were markedly reduced once factors, such as video game use, daily computer usage, and daily sleep, were taken into account, whereas age remained a consistent predictor of motor decline. Together, these findings provide a large-scale examination of age, sex/gender, and experiential effects on motor control, offering a normative benchmark to inform future clinical interventions aimed at preserving motor function across the lifespan.

SUBMITTER: Zhang A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12852145 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature