Fine motor precision tasks : Sex differences in 2 performance with and without visual guidance across 3 different age groups 4

Abstract

Previous studies have reported certain sex differences in motor performance precision. 15 The aim of the present study was to analyse sex differences in fine motor precision performance for 16 both hands in different tests conditions. 220 Spanish participants (ages: 12-95) performed fine motor 17 tasks tracing over the provided models – lines of 40 mm for both hands, two sensory conditions 18 (PV – proprioceptive-visual; P – proprioceptive only) and three movement types (F – frontal, T – 19 transversal and S Sagittal). Differences in line length (the task focused on precision) were observed 20 through MANOVA analysis for all test conditions, both sexes and different age groups. Sex 21 differences in precision were observed in F and T movement types (statistically significance level 22 and higher Cohens’ d was observed in condition with vision). No any statistically significant 23 differences were observed in both hands and sensory conditions in sagittal type. Sex differences in 24 fine motor precision were more frequently observed in the PV sensory condition in the frontal 25 movement type and less in the sagittal one. 26