Cortical activity in fine-motor tasks in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A preliminary fNIRS study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Motor Control

Background:

• Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition impacting motor skills, daily living, and academic performance.
• Previous research indicates differing brain activation in children with DCD during motor tasks, but fNIRS has not been utilized.
• Understanding these neurological differences is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cortical activation patterns in children with DCD using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS).
• To compare brain activity during fine-motor tasks between children with DCD and typically developing (TD) children.
• To establish the feasibility of fNIRS for studying DCD.

Main Methods:

• A preliminary study involving six children with DCD and six TD children (ages 8-12).
• Three fine-motor tasks performed: Finger Tapping (FT), Curve Tracing (CT), and Paragraph Writing (PW).
• fNIRS measured cortical activity, with tasks presented in counterbalanced order and a 30s baseline.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in focal activation areas and neural networks were observed between the DCD and TD groups.
• Task-specific differences were noted in the right Pre-Motor Cortex (Pre-MC) and Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) for CT.
• Distinct patterns emerged in the right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) and right Pre-MC during PW.

Conclusions:

• Children with DCD exhibit unique patterns of cortical activation during fine-motor tasks compared to TD children.
• fNIRS is a feasible and effective tool for exploring neurological alterations in pediatric DCD.
• These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of DCD.