Grapho-motor analysis of handwritten language production

Abstract

Following an introduction with some relevant literature references, the central sections of this extended review article discuss two and three-dimensional movement analysis of the writing effector, and theoretical implications of reaction-time, movement-time, and fluency measures in handwriting research. Next, aspects of this analysis in a biomechanical context and in the context of the information-processing approach are discussed. Three hierarchical multi-stage models are reviewed, including the evidence in their support. This evidence is specified further at various levels in the handwriting task, seen as cognitive, psycholinguistic action, dealing hierarchically with units of decreasing size, from intentions down to muscular contractions, but in particular from word to stroke level. Thus, effects on the processing of strokes, allographs, graphemes, orthography, letter clusters, phonology, syllables, morphemes, and words are briefly mentioned. Finally, some prospects of potential further research development are indicated.