Motor control in children and adults during a non-speech oral task

Although decreased accuracy and increased variability of movement is a comm on developmental finding, the nature of these performance patterns remains poorly understood. The present study examined the accuracy and stability of several aspects of oral motor control. Specifically, we examined the contr ol of absolute timing (temporal parameterization), absolute amplitude (ampl itude parameterization), and relative timing and amplitude (generalized mot or programs) in children and adults during a lip plus jaw opening and closi ng task. As was the case with similar reports, we found that children were both less accurate and less stable in their assignment of temporal and ampl itude parameters. However, we further found that although children's underl ying movement patterns were less accurate than those of adults, children ex hibited similar variability in their generalized motor programs. The result s are discussed within the framework of a schema model of motor control (Sc hmidt, 1975) with reference to the strategic allocation of resources during motor learning.