Williams Nicole, Scharoun Benson Sara M, Bryden Pamela J
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.
Front Psychol. 2019 Jun 11;10:1130. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01130. eCollection 2019.
There is inconsistent evidence demonstrating a relationship between task complexity and hand preference. However, analyzing the point at which task complexity overrides the decision to demonstrate a biomechanically efficient movement can enable complexity to be quantified. Young children (ages 3-7), adolescents (ages 8-12), young adults (ages 18-25), and older adults (ages 65+) performed a newly developed Hand Selection Complexity Task (HSCT) and completed the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire (WHQ). The HSCT included a reciprocal Fitts' tapping task performed in the contralateral space (i.e., same side as preferred hand), followed by ipsilateral space (i.e., opposite side of preferred hand). An alternating contralateral-ipsilateral pattern enabled the participant to progress through six levels of difficulty in three conditions (manipulating target amplitude, width, and combined factors). As participants were free to perform with whichever hand (i.e., preferred, non-preferred) they deemed most appropriate, the level of difficulty where a hand switch occurred was identified. HSCT completion time and error scores were also computed. Findings revealed age to be a significant predictor of dependent measures when considering significant effects and interactions. Combined with the covariate WHQ score as a significant predictor of HSCT time and errors (in some, but not all cases), it can be argued that age-related effects reflect the development of handedness, and changes in strength of handedness across the lifespan. Together, findings suggest that task complexity plays an important role in hand selection when performing a task of increasing difficulty. It appears that task complexity will take precedent over object proximity and biomechanical efficiency, at a certain point, in order to complete the movement with the preferred hand. This point ultimately changes throughout the lifespan.
关于任务复杂性与手偏好之间的关系，证据并不一致。然而，分析任务复杂性超越展示生物力学高效运动的决策的那个点，能够使复杂性得以量化。幼儿（3至7岁）、青少年（8至12岁）、青年成年人（18至25岁）和老年人（65岁及以上）完成了一项新开发的手部选择复杂性任务（HSCT），并填写了滑铁卢利手问卷（WHQ）。HSCT包括在对侧空间（即与优势手同侧）执行的往复式菲茨敲击任务，随后是同侧空间（即与优势手对侧）。交替的对侧 - 同侧模式使参与者能够在三种条件下（操纵目标幅度、宽度和综合因素）通过六个难度级别。由于参与者可以自由选择他们认为最合适的手（即优势手、非优势手）来执行任务，因此确定了发生手切换的难度级别。还计算了HSCT完成时间和错误分数。研究结果表明，在考虑显著效应和相互作用时，年龄是相关测量指标的显著预测因素。结合作为HSCT时间和错误的显著预测因素的协变量WHQ分数（在一些但并非所有情况下），可以认为与年龄相关的效应反映了利手的发展以及一生中利手强度的变化。总之，研究结果表明，在执行难度不断增加的任务时，任务复杂性在手部选择中起着重要作用。似乎在某个时候，任务复杂性将优先于物体接近度和生物力学效率，以便用优势手完成动作。而这个点在整个生命周期中最终会发生变化。
