Visuospatial Attention and Motor Preparation in Individuals with Down Syndrome

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of young adults with and without Down syndrome (DS) with regard to attention orientation when detecting visual targets. The influence of advanced knowledge of target localization was examined when detection was (aiming task), or was not (detection task), followed by a movement toward the target. Participants were given advance information about the probability of target occurrence at expected locations. Results show that participants with DS benefit from attention orientation. However, they do not appear to use the same attentional strategies as participants without DS do when aiming is required. Analysis of the reaction times also revealed that participants with DS reacted faster in the aiming task rather than in the detection task.