Work

Large reaching datasets quantify the impact of age, sex/gender, and experience on motor control

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: As we age, our movements become slower and less precise—but the extent of this decline remains unclear. To address this, we harmonized data from 2,185 participants across four published studies using a standard center-out reaching task. We found that older age was associated with a steady decline in reaction time (– 1.2 ms/year), movement time (–2.3 ms/year), and movement precision (–0.02º/year). Although the rate of decline did not differ by sex/gender, females consistently reacted more slowly (–8 ms), moved more slowly (–37 ms), and exhibited greater precision (+0.5º) across the adult lifespan. Notably, sex/gender differences attenuated after accounting for experiential factors such as video game use and the amount of sleep per day, whereas age remained a robust and consistent predictor of motor decline. Together, these findings provide a large-scale quantification of age, sex/gender, and experiential effects on motor control, offering a normative benchmark to inform future clinical interventions aimed at preserving motor function across the lifespan.

Source: Communications Psychology

DOI: 10.1038/s44271-025-00383-7

Authors: Aoran Zhang, Marit F. L. Ruitenberg, Matthew Warburton, Stephen Scott, Jonathan S. Tsay

Institutions: Carnegie Mellon University, Leiden University, University of Leeds, Queen's University

Language: English

Topic: Motor Control and Adaptation

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,090