Dr.Biol., Professor V.N. Pushkina^1,2
Dr.Biol., Associate Professor E.Y. Fedorova¹
Dr.Sc.Soc. A.E. Stradze^1
1Moscow City Pedagogical University, Moscow
²Institute of Developmental Physiology, Russian Academy of Education, Moscow

Corresponding author: taiss43@yandex.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to test and analyze the gender-specific sensorimotor responses in the 7-8 year-olds.

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for the study the 7.38±0.08 years boys (n = 20) and 7.18±0.05 year-old girls (n = 20) without known medical contraindications to physical trainings at a Moscow school. The sample was tested by UPFT-1/30 "Psycho-physiologist" Test System with application of 35 response triggers/ stimuli. The central nervous system functions were rated by the simple and complex visual-motor response and response to moving object tests.

Results and conclusion. The simple visual-motor response tests found the girls’ central nervous system functions being 20% faster (p=0.0002) and better synchronized than the boys’ ones. The complex visual-motor response tests indicative of the individual operational functions under time pressure (withing tight time limits) also ranked the girls group higher. The complex visual-motor response test data analysis ranked the girls group significantly higher on the response speed (p=0.03), response stability (p=0.03) and error scoring (p=0.05) scales despite the fact that the group responses were collectively on the ‘below average’ level on the whole – versus he boys group ranked on the ‘low’ level (p=0.007). It should be mentioned that the girls group is close to the upper limit of the low level versus the boys group averaging close to the lower limit of this level.

The test data and analyses found the metropolitan 7-8 year-olds’ sensory activity and progress gender-specific in many aspects, and this fact is to be taken into account in the school education curricula, to have the education service and individual progress trajectories sensitively customized to the individual abilities and progress. The physical education teachers in their analyses of the physical fitness and motor skills test data should know that the 7-8 year-old girls' response speed is normally higher than the boys’ ones due to the higher central nervous system mobilization fitness and better response speed control.

Keywords: 7-8 year-olds, central nervous system, sensorimotor response, gender specifics.

Background. The early school age is known to be particularly sensitive to the movement speed, coordination [3] and cognitive qualities and functions excelling trainings [6] due to the inter-hemispheric interactions rapidly progressing with the movement control and culture [1]. Generally, this age group is believed to go through the cerebral functionality control restructuring process [5], with the active central nervous system processes facilitating the child’s adaptation to life on the whole and school learning challenges in particular. Maladaptive conditions in this critical period may negatively affect the central nervous system functionality [2], and this regress may be prevented by special physical education service with a special emphasis on the health protection and sensory system functionality improving practices including the movement coordination and control qualities and skills building ones. Modern studies report gender differences in the sensorimotor responses since 11 years of age, particularly expressive in the complex sensorimotor response, with the male age group tested with faster progresses in sensorimotor response test rates [4].

Objective of the study was to test and analyze the gender-specific sensorimotor responses in the 7-8 year-olds.

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for the study the 7.38±0.08 years boys (n = 20) and 7.18±0.05 year-old girls (n = 20) without known medical contraindications to physical trainings at a Moscow school. The sample was tested by UPFT-1/30 "Psycho-physiologist" Test System with application of 35 response triggers/ stimuli. The central nervous system functions were rated by the simple and complex visual-motor response and response to moving object tests.

Results and discussion. The simple visual-motor response tests found the girls’ central nervous system functions being 20% faster (p=0.0002) and better synchronized than the boys’ ones. The complex visual-motor response tests indicative of the individual operational functions under time pressure (withing tight time limits) also ranked the girls group higher. The complex visual-motor response test data analysis ranked the girls group significantly higher on the response speed (p=0.03), response stability (p=0.03) and error scoring (p=0.05) scales despite the fact that the group responses were collectively on the ‘below average’ level on the whole – versus he boys group ranked on the ‘low’ level (p=0.007). It should be mentioned that the girls group is close to the upper limit of the low level versus the boys group averaging close to the lower limit of this level.

Boys group was tested 30% higher on the maximal response time (p = 0.05) and 10% lower (p = 0.05) on the response stability scales – that may mean that the group strives to respond as fast as possible despite the errors made. On the whole, the girls group was notably lower (3.5 versus 4.07) in the total errors scoring scale that may mean that girls of this age are much more attentive to the performance quality and accuracy.

The response to moving object test indicative of the nervous processes balancing function ranked the girls group twice lower on the ‘anticipatory response’ (p = 0.05) and 22% higher on the ‘early response’ test scales (p = 0.05). We found insignificant gender group differences in the ‘total late response’ rates, although the ‘total anticipatory response times’ was 30% higher (p = 0.05) in the girls group. These test data may be interpreted as indicative of the excitation processes dominating in the girls group over inhibition ones.

Both groups were tested with the late responses heavily dominating over anticipatory responses – that may mean that the sample is vulnerable to functional stressors. The late, early and normal response ratios were estimated at 45:29:28 and 45:23:28 in the girls and boys groups, respectively. Knowing that the ‘balancing ratio’ in the girls group was significantly lower and the response to moving object insignificantly lower than in the boys group, we have grounds to assume that the central nervous system stress in the boys group is higher.

Conclusion. The test data and analyses found the metropolitan 7-8 year-olds’ sensory activity and progress gender-specific in many aspects, and this fact is to be taken into account in the school education curricula, to have the education service and individual progress trajectories sensitively customized to the individual abilities and progress. The physical education teachers in their analyses of the physical fitness and motor skills test data should know that the 7-8 year-old girls' response speed is normally higher than the boys’ ones due to the higher central nervous system mobilization fitness and better response speed control.

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