Neuropsychological function in children with primary complex motor stereotypies
E Mark Mahone1, Matthew Ryan, Lisa Ferenc
1Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|May 13, 2014
Summary
Children with primary complex motor stereotypies (CMS) show largely intact cognitive skills but may have motor difficulties. Stereotypy severity correlates with inattention and executive dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Complex motor stereotypies (CMS) are involuntary, repetitive movements.
- Primary CMS occurs without other developmental issues, unlike secondary CMS.
- Neuropsychological function in primary CMS is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neurobehavioral deficits in children with primary CMS.
- To compare neuropsychological profiles of children with primary CMS to controls.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 57 children with primary CMS and 57 controls.
- Participants aged 4-12 years underwent neuropsychological assessments.
- Parental ratings assessed stereotypy severity, inattention, and executive function.
Main Results:
- Children with primary CMS performed worse on motor skills and IQ tests (average range).
- One-third of the CMS group exhibited motor coordination difficulties.
- Higher stereotypy severity correlated with increased inattention and executive dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Primary CMS is associated with largely intact neuropsychological profiles.
- Stereotypy severity is linked to executive dysfunction.
- Observed motor difficulties were not correlated with stereotypy severity.
