Information processing deficits in clumsy children

Abnormal clumsiness was investigated within the Framework of an information processing model using chronometric techniques. Eight clumsy and eight normal children were tested in two experiments in which between-group comparisons were made of the functioning of the perceptual and response selection processes. The processing of both proprioceptive and visual stimulus information was investigated.Clumsy children were found to process proprioceptive information more slowly than do normal children. However, in this modality, neither the perceptual nor response selection processes were effectively manipulated. By comparison, no difference in the rate of processing of visual information was found. In this modality both processes were effectively manipulated and groups were not differentially affected. Thus, the findings suggest that abnormal clumsiness is associated with an information processing dysfunction which is specific to the proprioceptive modality. Moreover, the findings suggest that clumsiness is not associated with a defect of the response selection process.