Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 26, 2026
19:57
The Use of Trace Eyeblink Classical Conditioning to Assess Hippocampal Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Published on: August 5, 2017
8.9K
Children with Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Exhibit Atypical Gait Characteristics
Tenille C Taggart1,2, Roger W Simmons3, Jennifer D Thomas1
1Center for Behavioral Teratology , Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|July 21, 2017
Summary
Children exposed to alcohol before birth show impaired gait, including wider steps and increased variability in speed and cadence. Early movement interventions can help mitigate these motor deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure is linked to motor function impairments in children.
- Quantitative gait analysis has not been previously applied to this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively assess gait in children with and without prenatal alcohol exposure.
- To identify specific gait abnormalities associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.
Main Methods:
- Gait analysis using an instrumented walkway.
- Assessment of temporal-spatial gait parameters and their variability.
- Comparison of gait in alcohol-exposed (n=18) and non-exposed (n=26) children under various walking conditions.
Main Results:
- Alcohol-exposed children exhibited larger foot angles and wider step widths.
- Increased variability in gait velocity and cadence was observed in alcohol-exposed children.
- Greater variability in step width was noted in alcohol-exposed children during backward walking and across all conditions.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure adversely affects specific gait markers.
- Movement-enriched experiences are recommended to help children overcome alcohol-related motor deficits.
