Influences of task complexity, object location, and object type on hand selection in reaching in left and right-handed children and adults.

The effects of task complexity, object location, and object type on reaching behavior were examined. Two hundred ninety-two right-handed and 38 left-handed participants (grouped into five age groups) were asked to pick up or pick up and use objects in different regions of peripersonal space. It was found that individuals used their nonpreferred-hand more often in contralateral space than at the midline position. Using an object resulted in significantly more preferred-hand reaches than picking up an object. Furthermore, task complexity, object location, and object type interacted with each other depending upon age group and hand preference.