Association Between Executive Functions, Working Memory, and Manual Dexterity in Young and Healthy Older Adults
Open Access
- 1 February 2016
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Perceptual and Motor Skills
- Vol. 122 (1), 165-192
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512516628370
Abstract
Aging is accompanied by declines in cognitive and sensorimotor functions. However, at present, the interrelation between attentional processes and dexterity in aging has not been thoroughly addressed. This study explored the relationship between executive function, working memory, and dexterity performance in 15 young and 15 healthy elderly, right-handed participants. A modified version of the Purdue Pegboard Test was used for dexterity assessment. Two subtasks were selected to calculate temporal and kinematic parameters of reaching, grasping, transport, and insertion of pegs. Evaluation of executive function and working memory was performed using neuropsychological tests. The relationship between dexterity and cognitive outcomes were also examined. Results showed that the prehensile movements involved in grasping and their speed significantly differed between groups and correlated with executive function in the young group. For elderly adults, variability of hand movements turned out to be associated with executive abilities.This publication has 49 references indexed in Scilit:
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