Visuo-motor behaviour in pre-school children in relation to sex and neurological status: an experimental study on the effect of 'time-pressure'.

A detailed analysis was made of the visuo-motor behaviour of 139 pre-school children during a spatial-constructive task with and without time-pressure. The study focused mainly on sex differences and the implications of minor neurological dysfunctions for children's visuo-motor behaviour. Between sexes only minor differences in behavioural organization and efficiency were found. Between neurological groups only differences within the girls were found, those with lower neurological optimality scores showing more signs of 'lack of motor inhibition' and distraction in the prestress condition, seemingly related to differences in motivation. No effect was found for time-pressure for groups with a different neurological status.