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Visually guided step descent in children with Williams syndrome
Dorothy Cowie1, Oliver Braddick, Janette Atkinson
1Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK. d.cowie@gold.ac.uk
Developmental Science
|January 19, 2012
Summary
Children with Williams syndrome (WS) show significant whole-body visuomotor control impairments, failing to adjust leg movements when stepping down. Performance improved with verbal age, suggesting developmental plasticity in motor control despite deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Motor Control
Background:
- Williams syndrome (WS) is associated with visuospatial and manual visuomotor deficits.
- Parietal and cerebellar abnormalities are noted in individuals with WS.
- The impact of WS on visually controlling whole-body movements remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate visual control of stepping down in children with Williams syndrome.
- To determine if individuals with WS utilize visual information for locomotor adjustments.
- To explore factors influencing whole-body visuomotor control in WS.
Main Methods:
- Kinematic recording of children with WS (5-16 years) descending a single step with unpredictable height.
- Analysis of leg movement adjustments in response to visual cues for step depth and position.
- Comparison with typically developing children and correlation with visual, balance, and verbal abilities.
Main Results:
- Children with WS did not use visual information to appropriately slow their leg during stepping down.
- This pattern contrasts with typically developing children, indicating severe whole-body visuomotor control impairment in WS.
- Performance was not linked to low-level visual or balance issues but improved with increased verbal age.
Conclusions:
- Visuospatial and visuomotor deficits in Williams syndrome extend to the locomotor domain.
- The findings provide evidence for the role of parietal and cerebellar circuits in the visual control of whole-body movement.
- Suggests plasticity and developmental potential in whole-body motor control within WS.
