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Updated: May 27, 2026
A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking
Published on: July 9, 2016
Visual perception and visual-motor integration in very preterm and/or very low birth weight children: a meta-analysis
C J A Geldof1, A G van Wassenaer, J F de Kieviet
1Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.j.a.geldof@vu.nl
Insights
Very preterm birth is linked to visual-spatial and visual-motor integration deficits, particularly in boys. These neurobehavioral impairments may stem from altered brain circuitry development in preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Children born very preterm often exhibit neurobehavioral impairments.
- Variability in reported visual perception and visual-motor integration deficits is significant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis on the effects of very preterm birth on visual perception and visual-motor integration.
- To provide robust estimates of these neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of existing literature.
- Aggregation of studies reporting on visual perceptive and visual-motor integration abilities in very preterm children.
Main Results:
- Deficits observed in visual-spatial abilities (medium to large effect sizes).
- No significant deficits in visual closure perception.
- Inconclusive results for broad visual perceptive indices.
- Impaired visual-motor integration found (medium effect size), more pronounced in boys.
Conclusions:
- Very preterm birth is associated with specific visual-spatial and visual-motor integration deficits.
- These deficits may be related to disruptions in occipital-parietal-frontal neural networks.
- Gender differences in visual-motor integration deficits warrant further investigation.
Abstract:
A range of neurobehavioral impairments, including impaired visual perception and visual-motor integration, are found in very preterm born children, but reported findings show great variability. We aimed to aggregate the existing literature using meta-analysis, in order to provide robust estimates of the effect of very preterm birth on visual perceptive and visual-motor integration abilities. Very preterm born children showed deficits in visual-spatial abilities (medium to large effect sizes) but not in visual closure perception. Tests reporting broad visual perceptive indices showed inconclusive results. In addition, impaired visual-motor integration was found (medium effect size), particularly in boys compared to girls. The observed visual-spatial and visual-motor integration deficits may arise from affected occipital-parietal-frontal neural circuitries.
