Dataset Information

Is the fine motor-executive functions link stronger for new compared to repeated fine motor tasks?

ABSTRACT: Although the motor-executive function (EF) link is actively being investigated, there remain open questions surrounding why some studies found associations between specific motor and specific EF tasks, while others did not. Furthermore, it is also yet unknown which factors impact the magnitude of the motor-EF link. Findings from neuroimaging studies have proposed that neural activity in networks that are important for motor and cognitive tasks is especially strong when a task is new. In the present behavioral study, we systematically investigated the impact that task novelty had on the motor-EF link. In our study, n = 124 kindergarten children aged five to six administered in a within-subject design three fine motor tasks of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (Posting Coins, Threading Beads, and Drawing Trail) twice in succession (new vs. repeated), and three EF tasks (adapted versions of a Flanker, a N-back, and the Advanced Dimensional Chance Card Sort task). Results not only replicated the fine motor-EF link, but also showed a significantly stronger association between EF and the new task compared to the repeated Drawing Trail task. However, for the time-based task of Posting Coins and Threading Beads, motor-EF associations did not differ between the new task and the repeated task. Future investigations of more than two repetitions will provide further insights into the assumption that the motor-EF link is mainly driven by the EF processes triggered when a task is new, demands attention, and requires fast and flexible adaptation.

SUBMITTER: Maurer MN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7644017 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Is the fine motor-executive functions link stronger for new compared to repeated fine motor tasks?

Maurer Michelle N MN Roebers Claudia M CM

PloS one 20201105 11

Although the motor-executive function (EF) link is actively being investigated, there remain open questions surrounding why some studies found associations between specific motor and specific EF tasks, while others did not. Furthermore, it is also yet unknown which factors impact the magnitude of the motor-EF link. Findings from neuroimaging studies have proposed that neural activity in networks that are important for motor and cognitive tasks is especially strong when a task is new. In the pres ...[more]

PMID: 33151994

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Project description:There is some evidence that an improved understanding of executive control in the human movement system could be gained from explorations based on scale-free, fractal analysis of cyclic motor time series. Such analyses capture non-linear fractal dynamics in temporal fluctuations of motor instances that are believed to reflect how executive control enlist a coordination of multiple interactions across temporal scales between the brain, the body and the task environment, an essential architecture for adaptation. Here by recruiting elite rugby players with high motor skills and submitting them to the execution of rhythmic motor tasks involving legs and arms concurrently, the main attempt was to build on the multifractal formalism of movement control to show a marginal need of effective adaptation in concurrent tasks, and a preserved adaptability despite complexified motor execution. The present study applied a multifractal analytical approach to experimental time series and added surrogate data testing based on shuffled, ARFIMA, Davies&Harte and phase-randomized surrogates, for assessing scale-free behavior in repeated motor time series obtained while combining cycling with finger tapping and with circling. Single-tasking was analyzed comparatively. A focus-based multifractal-DFA approach provided Hurst exponents (H) of individual time series over a range of statistical moments H(q), q = [-15 15]. H(2) quantified monofractality and H(-15)-H(15) provided an index of multifractality. Despite concurrent tasking, participants showed great capacity to keep the target rhythm. Surrogate data testing showed reasonable reliability in using multifractal formalism to decipher movement control behavior. The global (i.e., monofractal) behavior in single-tasks did not change when adapting to dual-task. Multifractality dominated in cycling and did not change when cycling was challenged by upper limb movements. Likewise, tapping and circling behaviors were preserved despite concurrent cycling. It is concluded that the coordinated executive control when adapting to dual-motor tasking is not modified in people having developed great motor skills through physical training. Executive control likely emerged from multiplicative interactions across temporal scales which puts emphasis on multifractal approaches of the movement system to get critical cues on adaptation. Extending such analyses to less skilled people is appealing in the context of exploring healthy and diseased movement systems.

Project description:There is growing evidence indicating positive, causal effects of acute physical activity on cognitive performance of school children, adolescents, and adults. However, only a few studies examined these effects in kindergartners, even though correlational studies suggest moderate relationships between motor and cognitive functions in this age group. One aim of the present study was to examine the correlational relationships between motor and executive functions among 5- to 6-year-olds. Another aim was to test whether an acute coordinative intervention, which was adapted to the individual motor functions of the children, causally affected different executive functions (i.e., motor inhibition, cognitive inhibition, and shifting). Kindergartners (N = 102) were randomly assigned either to a coordinative intervention (20 min) or to a control condition (20 min). The coordination group performed five bimanual exercises (e.g., throwing/kicking balls onto targets with the right and left hand/foot), whereas the control group took part in five simple activities that hardly involved coordination skills (e.g., stamping). Children's motor functions were assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 (Petermann, 2009) in a pre-test (T1), 1 week before the intervention took place. Motor inhibition was assessed with the Simon says task (Carlson and Wang, 2007), inhibition and shifting were assessed with the Hearts and Flowers task (Davidson et al., 2006) in the pre-test and again in a post-test (T2) immediately after the interventions. Results revealed significant correlations between motor functions and executive functions (especially shifting) at T1. There was no overall effect of the intervention. However, explorative analyses indicated a three-way interaction, with the intervention leading to accuracy gains only in the motor inhibition task and only if it was tested directly after the intervention. As an unexpected effect, this result needs to be treated with caution but may indicate that the effect of acute coordinative exercise is temporally limited and emerges only for motor inhibition, but not for cognitive inhibition or shifting. More generally, in contrast to other studies including older participants and endurance exercises, no general effect of an acute coordinative intervention on executive functions was revealed for kindergartners.

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Is the fine motor-executive functions link stronger for new compared to repeated fine motor tasks?

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Is the fine motor-executive functions link stronger for new compared to repeated fine motor tasks?

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