ERIC Number: EJ1213425
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-May
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0165-0254
EISSN: N/A
Foot Preference across the Lifespan: Effects of Target Location and Task Complexity
Ghamgui, Sana; Dahmen, Riadh; Souissi, Nizar
International Journal of Behavioral Development, v43 n3 p238-244 May 2019
This study was designed to determine the factor(s) that influence the choice of the foot throughout the lifespan. To achieve this purpose, 86 right-footed participants (young children (5-- 8), adolescents (10-14), young adults (18-25) and older adults (over 50) were tested on two tasks of different levels of difficulty, performed in three spatial locations (left, right, and midline) according to two levels of body posture: sitting and standing. Results revealed that the participants favored their preferred foot when the object was located in the ipsilateral hemispace and at the midline. They selected their non-preferred foot when the object was located in the contralateral hemispace. The participants used their preferred foot to a greater extent during the most complex task than during the easiest one and more often while standing rather than sitting. Finally, we have found a significant age effect. Young children often used the preferred foot more frequently than the other age groups. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that foot selection depends on task demand, environmental constraints, and a biological factor associated with motor dominance.
Descriptors: Adolescents, Young Adults, Older Adults, Young Children, Difficulty Level, Preferences, Age Differences, Environmental Influences, Biology, Lateral Dominance, Handedness, Psychomotor Skills, Human Body
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A