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Relation of infant motor development with nonverbal intelligence, language comprehension and neuropsychological

Fadila Serdarevic1,2, Tamara van Batenburg-Eddes2,3, Sabine E Mous1,2

  • 1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Developmental Science
|November 10, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Infant neuromotor development impacts early childhood cognition. Less optimal infant neurodevelopment predicts deficits in executive functions like memory and planning, but not general intelligence or language skills.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental neuroscience
  • Pediatric neurology
  • Child psychology

Background:

  • Early life neuromotor development is crucial for cognitive outcomes.
  • Understanding predictors of cognitive function in children is essential for early intervention.
  • Population-based studies offer insights into developmental trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between infant neuromotor development and cognitive abilities in early childhood.
  • To identify specific cognitive domains influenced by early neurodevelopmental status.
  • To examine the predictive value of infant neuromotor assessment for later cognitive functioning.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort of 3356 children was studied.
  • Infant neuromotor development was assessed using an adapted Touwen's Neurodevelopmental Examination (9-20 weeks).
  • Cognitive functions, including executive functioning, intelligence, language comprehension, and neuropsychological domains, were evaluated at ages 4-9 years using standardized tests (e.g., NEPSY-II-NL).

Main Results:

  • Less optimal infant neuromotor development was associated with poorer performance in mental rotation, immediate memory, shifting, and planning at later ages.
  • No significant association was found between infant neuromotor development and nonverbal intelligence or language comprehension.
  • Specific executive functions appear more sensitive to early neuromotor variations than general cognitive abilities.

Conclusions:

  • Infant neuromotor development serves as a potential early indicator for specific cognitive and executive function deficits.
  • Early neuromotor assessment may aid in identifying children at risk for particular cognitive challenges.
  • Targeted interventions focusing on executive functions could benefit children with suboptimal early neurodevelopment.

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