What happens to fine motor skills vs gross motor skills under stress?

• A. Gross motor skills deteriorate; fine motor skills are retained.
• B. Fine motor skills deteriorate; gross motor skills are retained.
• C. Both improve.
• D. Both deteriorate equally.

Answer: (B)

When stress hits, the body’s fight-or-flight system ramps up arousal. Fine motor skills, which require precise, controlled finger and hand movements, are the first to suffer. Adrenaline and increased muscle tension can cause tremor, reduced tactile feedback, and the concentration needed for delicate tasks becomes harder to sustain, so small, careful actions tighten up or falter.

Gross motor skills involve larger muscle groups and more automatic movement patterns. These skills are more robust under acute arousal and can even be helped by heightened readiness to act, especially for quick, broad actions like running, pushing, or grabbing. That’s why, in stressful situations, you’ll often see people maintain or perform better with those larger, simpler movements while precision tasks degrade.

So the best choice reflects that fine motor deterioration occurs with preserved gross motor performance under stress.