Gender and age-related features of psychomotor indicators in 10-16-year-old students (longitudinal study)

The ambiguity of research on the development of psychomotor functions and the state of the central nervous system in adolescents indicates the relevance of this problem. Aim. The article is aimed at identifying the gender and age-related features of the increase in psychomotor indicators in 10-16-year-old adolescents. Materials and methods. The longitudinal study was conducted on an annual basis, in October, over a six-year period of training and in accordance with the requirements of biomedical ethics. The sample included adolescents of I and II health groups (n = 45, initial age - 10 years, 20 male children, 25 female children). Psychophysiological measurements were carried out in the first half of the day (from 10 to 12 hours) by using the NS-Psychotest equipment (Neurosoft, Ivanovo). Statistical data processing was carried out using the Microsoft Office Excel program. Results. The gender and age-related dynamics of various psychomotor indicators is characterized by a number of features: uneven growth in male and female children, phase-like changes with or without plateau, a general tendency to a decrease in visual-motor reaction time, the increase of the lability of the nervous system. Gender-related differences were found for visual-motor reaction (10 and 13 years), reaction time under dynamic noise (14 and 16 years); tapping test (13-14 and 16 years); attention concentration (11-12 years). Conclusion. Gender and age-related differences indicate the relative advantage of one or another gender in the speed of reaction during ontogenesis. The data obtained for the features of gender and age-related development of spatial coordination and psychomotor characteristics are the basis of pedagogical influence determined by the principles of individualization and health-preserving organization of the educational process.