The effects of age and sex on phonemic processing time during a picture recognition task.

Both simple motor and choice reaction times of 5 groups of normal children and adults (6 F and 6 M in each group, mn ages of groups: 4.2, 7.4, 10.3, 13.2 and 18.5 yrs) were measured to 12 pairs of pictured, taped verbal monosyllables presented binaurally. Ss were required to move the R hand from a rest to touch a picture either left or right depending upon which of a pair of words was presented aurally. Words differed only in the initial consonant. S was either given knowledge of which word would be presented (simple motor reaction time) or not (choice reaction time). The second value minus the first was taken as phonemic processing skills improved for picture recognition, both in speed and accuracy, with development generally complete by Age 13 for speed, but with significant increases in accuracy continuing into adulthood.