Motor skill acquisition by individuals with Down syndrome.

Motor skill acquisition of subjects with Down syndrome on a pursuit tracking task was assessed in comparison to groups of mentally retarded subjects without Down syndrome and nonretarded subjects matched for functional age and chronological age (CA). Thirty-seven male subjects performed eight trials on a subject-paced pursuit tracking task. The main finding was that subjects with Down syndrome did not respond to directional probability in the same manner shown by the retarded or the nonretarded subjects matched for CA or functional age. This difference in strategy was also reflected in their greater emphasis on accuracy rather than speed. Finally, these effects were consistent across the subjects with Down syndrome despite the large intersubject variability seen in their performance.