Age differences in the expression of manual asymmetry

Manual dexterity declines in older adults; however, the degree to which the decline is symmetrical in the two hands is less clear. In this investigati on the differences between young (aged 18 to 24) and old (aged 62 to 72) me n and women in the expression of manual asymmetry across several motor task s were examined. Five motor tasks provided a broad measurement of several m otor characteristics necessary for instrumental activities of daily, living . The main effect of sex was not significant; therefore data from men and w omen were pooled. Little support was found for generalized asymmetrical per formance in old admits compared to young adults across motor tasks. An age- by-hand group analysis indicated that age was related to preferred hand per formance on two tasks, but when a within-subject analysis of hand differenc es was performed, and the speed accuracy ti ade-off considered, differentia l asymmetry was seen only in the most complex, speeded task.