Gaze Control in Children with High Versus Low Motor Proficiency

Abstract

Gaze control was compared between children demonstrating high vs low motor proficiency on the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. Gaze during the response speed task, which measures reaction to a moving visual stimulus, was observed. Eye events were coded just prior, during, and after the release of the stick in the response speed task. A set of six gazes across seven trials of the task was recorded for all subjects. Low proficiency children were slower to respond to the falling stick than the high proficiency group. High performers tended to use a higher percentage of fixations across all trials. Most noticeble were differences between the groups at the moment of release. For high performers, fixations tended to be much longer, indicating the use of a steady gaze through to the final clamping motion of the thumb on the stick. Additionally, the location of gaze at the moment of release differed noticeably. High performers sustained their gaze on the stick while the low performers were as likely to focus on the stick, off the stick or at their own thumb. This study describes the role of gaze in the performance of tasks requiring a quick response to visual stimuli. The results suggest that differences between between proficient and clumsy motor responses in children may be associated with gaze control.