DEVELOPMENT OF VISUOMOTOR COORDINATION IN SCHOOL-AGE-CHILDREN - THE BIMANUAL COORDINATION TEST

A Bimanual Coordination Test (BCT) was explored for its use in assessing visuomotor coordination and interhemispheric interactions in school-age children. Because myelinization of both intrahemispheric and interhemispheric association fibers is completed late in childhood, ability to do complex visuomotor tasks, particularly those demanding coordination of the left and right hands, should be critical markers of development. BCT speed and accuracy increased with age in a manner consistent with developmental progressions. Whereas bimanual time and errors were significantly correlated with age, left-hand unimanual performance was most strongly age related. BCT unimanual performance was correlated with the Finger Tapping Test. Correlations with the Tactile Performance Test (Form Board) suggested that facilitation of the nondominant hand may be a callosal mechanism important to BCT performance. Data from this study provide normative standards for studies of children at risk for learning disabilities.