Altered sense of agency in children with developmental coordination disorder.

Nobusako et al. (2020) asked kids to press a button that made a sound. The sound came right away or after a tiny delay. Kids said whether they or the computer caused the sound.

The team tested two groups: children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing peers. They measured the time window where kids still felt "I did that."

Kids with DCD kept saying "I did it" even when the delay was longer than normal. Their sense-of-agency window was wider than that of peers.

The extra-wide window shows their brain links action and outcome across a longer gap. This hints at slower sensory-motor integration.

Godoi-Jacomassi et al. (2025) extend this idea. They found the same DCD group shows shaky balance and mixed-up sensory weighting. Both studies point to one root issue: weak sensorimotor integration.

Amore et al. (2011) and Chung et al. (2011) saw similar balance problems years earlier. Their work on sensory organization and moving-room tests now makes sense when paired with the wider agency window.

Gomez et al. (2020) show DCD also slows rapid counting. Slow timing is not just about muscles; it spills into thinking tasks. Together the papers map a timing problem that runs across brain and body.

When you teach a child with DCD a new skill, give the feedback right away. A praise token or beep that comes even half a second late may feel unrelated to them. Keep instructions short and deliver reinforcers instantly. This small shift respects their wider agency window and can speed up learning.