Children with developmental coordination disorder show altered functional connectivity compared to peers

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition impacting motor skills and daily activities.
• The exact cause of DCD is unknown, but atypical brain structure and function are suspected.
• Resting-state MRI is a tool to assess functional brain connectivity during rest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity in children with DCD and typically developing children.
• To investigate neurological differences underlying DCD using advanced neuroimaging techniques.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to analyze resting-state functional connectivity.
• Compared 35 children with DCD and 23 typically developing children (ages 8-12).
• Controlled for age and sex in the analysis across 19 brain networks.

Main Results:

• Children with DCD exhibited altered functional connectivity between the sensorimotor network and key brain regions: posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), precuneus, and posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG).
• Statistical significance was observed at p < 0.0001 for these connectivity alterations.
• Identified specific network communication differences associated with DCD.

Conclusions:

• Altered functional connectivity, particularly involving the sensorimotor network and PCC, may contribute to motor learning difficulties in DCD.
• The involvement of the pMTG, a hub for action-related information, could explain functional challenges in DCD.
• This research enhances understanding of the neural underpinnings of DCD.