| 1. |
- Imms, Christine, et al.
(author)
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Participation, both a means and an end : a conceptual analysis of processes and outcomes in childhood disability
- 2017
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In: Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0012-1622 .- 1469-8749. ; 59:1, s. 16-25
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This review outlines a conceptual approach to inform research and practice aimed at supporting children whose lives are complicated by impairment and/or chronic medical conditions, and their families. ‘Participation’ in meaningful life activities should be an essential intervention goal, to meet the challenges of healthy growth and development, and to provide opportunities to help ensure that young people with impairments reach their full potential across their lifespan. Intervention activities and research can focus on participation as either an independent or dependent variable. The proposed framework and associated hypotheses are applicable to children and young people with a wide variety of conditions, and to their families. In taking a fresh ‘non-categorical’ perspective to health for children and young people, asking new questions, and exploring issues in innovative ways, we expect to learn lessons and to develop creative solutions that will ultimately benefit children with a wide variety of impairments and challenges, and their families, everywhere.
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| 2. |
- McGuckian, Thomas B., et al.
(author)
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Development of complex executive function over childhood : Longitudinal growth curve modeling of performance on the Groton Maze Learning Task
- 2023
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In: Child Development. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0009-3920 .- 1467-8624. ; 94:3, s. 648-658
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This longitudinal study modeled children's complex executive function (EF) development using the Groton Maze Learning Task (GMLT). Using a cohort-sequential design, 147 children (61 males, 5.5–11 years) were recruited from six multicultural primary schools in Melbourne and Perth, Australia. Race/ethnicity data were not available. Children were assessed on the GMLT at 6-month intervals over 2-years between 2010 and 2012. Growth curve models describe age-related change from 5.5 to 12.5 years old. Results showed a quadratic growth trajectory on each measure of error—that is, those that reflect visuospatial memory, executive control (or the ability to apply rules for action), and complex EF. The ability to apply rules for action, while a rate-limiting factor in complex EF, develops rapidly over early-to-mid childhood.
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| 3. |
- Subara-Zukic, Emily, et al.
(author)
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Behavioral and Neuroimaging Research on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) : A Combined Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Recent Findings
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Psychology. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-1078. ; 13
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: The neurocognitive basis of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD; or motor clumsiness) remains an issue of continued debate. This combined systematic review and meta-analysis provides a synthesis of recent experimental studies on the motor control, cognitive, and neural underpinnings of DCD.Methods: The review included all published work conducted since September 2016 and up to April 2021. One-hundred papers with a DCD-Control comparison were included, with 1,374 effect sizes entered into a multi-level meta-analysis.Results: The most profound deficits were shown in: voluntary gaze control during movement; cognitive-motor integration; practice-/context-dependent motor learning; internal modeling; more variable movement kinematics/kinetics; larger safety margins when locomoting, and atypical neural structure and function across sensori-motor and prefrontal regions.Interpretation: Taken together, these results on DCD suggest fundamental deficits in visual-motor mapping and cognitive-motor integration, and abnormal maturation of motor networks, but also areas of pragmatic compensation for motor control deficits. Implications for current theory, future research, and evidence-based practice are discussed.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42020185444.
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| 4. |
- Weinstein, Maya, et al.
(author)
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Understanding the relationship between brain and upper limb function in children with unilateral motor impairments : A multimodal approach
- 2018
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In: European journal of paediatric neurology. - : Elsevier. - 1090-3798 .- 1532-2130. ; 22:1, s. 143-154
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Atypical brain development and early brain injury have profound and long lasting impact on the development, skill acquisition, and subsequent independence of a child. Heterogeneity is present at the brain level and at the motor level; particularly with respect to phenomena of bilateral activation and mirrored movements (MMs). In this multiple case study we consider the feasibility of using several modalities to explore the relationship between brain structure and/or activity and hand function: Electroencephalography (EEG), both structural and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI, fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), Electromyography (EMG) and hand function assessments.Methods: 15 children with unilateral CP (ages: 9.4 ± 2.5 years) undertook hand function assessments and at least two additional neuroimaging and/or neurophysiological procedures: MRI/DTI/fMRI (n = 13), TMS (n = 11), and/or EEG/EMG (n = 8). During the fMRI scans and EEG measurements, a motor task was performed to study cortical motor control activity during simple hand movements. DTI tractography analysis was used to study the corpus-callosum (CC) and cortico-spinal tracts (CST). TMS was used to study cortico-spinal connectivity pattern.Results: Type and range of severity of brain injury was evident across all levels of manual ability with the highest radiological scores corresponded to children poorer manual ability. Evidence of MMs was found in 7 children, mostly detected when moving the affected hand, and not necessarily corresponding to bilateral brain activation. When moving the affected hand, bilateral brain activation was seen in 6/11 children while 3/11 demonstrated unilateral activation in the contralateral hemisphere, and one child demonstrated motor activation predominantly in the supplementary motor area (SMA). TMS revealed three types of connectivity patterns from the cortex to the affected hand: a contralateral (n = 3), an ipsilateral (n = 4) and a mixed (n = 1) connectivity pattern; again without clear association with MMs. No differences were found between children with and without MMs in lesion scores, motor fMRI laterality indices, CST diffusivity values, and upper limb function. In the genu, midbody, and splenium of the CC, higher fractional anisotropy values were found in children with MMs compared to children without MMs. The EEG data indicated a stronger mu-restoration above the contralateral hemisphere in 6/8 children and above the ipsilateral hemisphere in 2/8 children.Conclusion: The current results demonstrate benefits from the use of different modalities when studying upper-limb function in children with CP; not least to accommodate to the variations in tolerance and feasibility of implementation of the differing methods. These exposed multiple individual brain-reorganization patterns corresponding to different functional motor abilities. Additional research is warranted to understand the transactional influences of early brain injury, neuroplasticity and developmental and environmental factors on hand function in order to develop targeted interventions.
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| 5. |
- Wilson, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Cognitive and motor function in developmental coordination disorder
- 2020
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In: Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0012-1622 .- 1469-8749. ; 62:11, s. 1317-1323
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To analyse the development of motor skill and executive function in school-aged children with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD).Method: Using a longitudinal design, 186 children (86 males, 100 females) aged 6 to 11 years at Time 1 were tested over a 2-year period, 52 of whom were diagnosed with DCD at Time 1 (27 males, 25 females; mean age 8y 5mo, SD 1y 6mo) using DSM-5 criteria. The McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development assessed motor status at Time 1 and at 2-year follow-up (Time 2). Executive function was assessed using a well-validated measure, the Groton Maze Learning Test.Results: The DCD cohort at Time 1 had moderate incidence of executive function deficit (41%). Most importantly, at a group level, children with persisting DCD (across Times 1 and 2) also showed significantly lower levels of executive function than children with typical motor development at both time points. At an individual level, around 26% of children in this group had persisting executive function deficits relative to normal ranges of performance.Interpretation: Children with persisting DCD are at significant risk of executive function issues. The combination of motor and cognitive issues as a potential risk factor in the longer-term development of children is discussed.What this paper adds: Around half of children initially diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) had the same diagnosis at 2-year follow-up. 41% of children with DCD have impaired executive function. Children with persisting DCD show poorer executive function than those with typical motor development or remitting DCD.
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| 6. |
- Wilson, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Integrating new technologies into the treatment of CP and DCD
- 2016
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In: Current Developmental Disorders Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2196-2987. ; 3:2, s. 138-151
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper examines how current understandings of childhood participation and motor development provide opportunities for using new technologies (such as virtual reality—VR) for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Specifically, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health is used to conceptualize the role of technology in treatment across body structures and body function, activity performance, and participation (WHO 2007, 2012). First, we review the particular motor control and learning mechanisms that have been implicated in children with atypical motor development, like DCD. This section will highlight avenues for targeted remediation. Next, VR-based rehabilitation systems are reviewed in relation to neurodevelopmental disorders, focusing first on CP and second on more recent applications for children with DCD. We describe the evolution of particular design innovations in virtual rehabilitation including recent advances using tangible interfaces, as well as other methods targeting cognitive function more specifically. Benefits of these various treatments will be viewed through the lens of current theory and evaluated at the level of child and family outcomes. Finally, we consider the broader aspects of the potential for technological innovation in rehabilitation and its impact on brain function, activity competence, and longer-term participation.
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| 7. |
- Zielinski, Ingar M., et al.
(author)
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The relation between mirror movements and non-use of the affected hand in children with unilateral cerebral palsy
- 2017
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In: Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0012-1622 .- 1469-8749. ; 59:2, s. 152-159
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim:In children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP), it is widely believed that mirror movements contribute to non-use of the affected hand despite preserved capacity, a phenomenon referred to as developmental disregard. We aimed to test whether mirror movements are related to developmental disregard, and to clarify the relation between mirror movements and bimanual function.Method:A repetitive squeezing task simultaneously measuring both hands' grip-forces was developed to assess mirror movements by using maximum cross-correlation coefficient (CCCmax) as well as strength measures (MMstrength). Developmental disregard, bimanual performance, and capacity were assessed using a validated video-observation method. Twenty-one children with unilateral CP participated (Median age 10y 7mo, interquartile range [IQR] 10y 1mo–12y 9mo). Outcome measures of mirror movements were correlated to developmental disregard, bimanual performance, and capacity scores using Spearman's correlations (significance level: α<0.05).Results:Mirror movements were not related to developmental disregard. However, enhanced mirror movements in the less-affected hand were related to reduced performance (CCCmax: ρ=−0.526, p=0.007; MMstrength: ρ=−0.750, p<0.001) and capacity (CCCmax: ρ=−0.410, p=0.033; MMstrength: ρ=−0.679, p<0.001). These relations were only moderate (performance:MMstrength: ρ=−0.504, p=0.010), low (capacity: MMstrength: ρ=−0.470, p=0.016) or absent for mirror movements in the affected hand. Additionally, seven children showed stronger movements in their less-affected hands when actually being asked to move their affected hand.Interpretation:These findings show no relation between mirror movements and developmental disregard, but support an association between mirror movements and bimanual function.
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