A COMPARISON OF END STATE COMFORT EFFECT (ESC) AND ANTICIPATORY MOTOR PLANNING IN YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE ELDERLY

Instrduction: Anticipatory motor planning can be defined as a process in which a person adopts specific movements from an infinite number of (degrees of freedom). The ability to have motor planning, develops throughout childhood but at older ages (the elderly ) the development of this phenomenon has remained unknown. The present study aims to compare motor planning and the phenomenon of the end state comfort effect between two groups of young and the elderly. Sample & Method: ۲۷ elderly people aged ۶۵-۷۱ years and ۳۱ young people aged ۲۷-۳۲ years were chosen to form the statistical sample of this study. In order to investigate the Anticipatory Motor Planning, a Bar-transport task was used horizontally on two legs, one white and the other side black and two targets for cylinder placement. Participants should lift the cylinder with their dominant hand and aim at the cylinder by turning it ۹۰ degrees clockwise into the hole, after giving instructions on which side of the cylinder to enter the target. The percentage of attempts that resulted underhand grip was used as anticipatory motor planning. Result: The results of Independent t-test showed that there was a significant difference between two groups of young and the elderly group (P≤۰.۰۵), and this difference was indicative of Anticipatory motor planning deficits in the elderly group studies. Also the elderly showed a significant increase in error rate, speed of initiation and reaching (movement time). Therefore, considering the role of Anticipatory motor planning in the processes based on targeted behavior and the impact of these behaviors in the independent life of these groups, it is suggested to find solutions to improve projection in future. Conclusion: Considering the wide role of cognitive factors in motor planning and quality of life of these people and confirmation of the shortcomings of Anticipatory motor planning in the elderly in this study compared to young people, it is suggested that the priority should be given to cognitive and motor strategies which can improve the cognitive deficits and help these people to have more active participation in society.

کلیدواژه ها:

End State Comfort Effect (ESC) ، Anticipatory motor planning ، Degree of freedom ، Cognitive deficit ، Elderly