Cite as:
Richez A, Coello Y, 2011, "Spatial perception and motor skills in children" Perception 40 ECVP Abstract Supplement, page 226

Spatial perception and motor skills in children

A Richez, Y Coello

Since Berkeley’s famous essay, it is thought that spatial vision may proceed from an interpretation of sensory information through reference to the possibility of action. This implies that visuospatial information is coded in a motor format in order to be compatible with predictive model associated with action planning and to anticipate the expected dynamic of the body in relation to the environment. In this context we focus on the developmental aspect of ability to perceive the boundary of what is reachable in relation to the ability to refer to motor representation. We assessed for 6-to-12 years old children and adults the accuracy of reachability estimate as well as their abilities to perform mental simulation of motor actions. Analysis revealed significant effect of age on both tasks: younger children improve their reachability judgment but show weaker simulation whereas older children show improvement in both their reachability judgment and their simulation suggesting a change in the way they process visual input in relation to action. Those findings suggest: (i) a developmental aspect of children’s capacities to integrate motor properties and visual information; (ii) a refinement of internal models of action prediction during childhood leading to an improvement in perceptual judgment of reachability.

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