Performance in Hand Coordination Tasks and Concurrent Functional MRI Findings in 13-Year-Olds Born Very Preterm
Karoliina Uusitalo1, Leena Haataja2, Virva Saunavaara3
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Insights
Adolescents born very preterm showed similar hand coordination skills but different brain activation patterns compared to peers born at term. These findings highlight the neurobiological impact of very preterm birth on motor control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Motor Control
Background:
- Fine motor and coordination deficits are common in adolescents born preterm.
- Previous research indicates potential challenges in motor skills for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare hand coordination task performance between adolescents born very preterm and at term.
- To investigate differences in brain activation during these tasks at 13 years of age.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 34 very preterm adolescents (gestational age < 32 weeks) and 37 term-born controls.
- Assessed finger opposition and diadochokinesis at 13 years.
- Acquired functional MRI data during unimanual hand coordination tasks.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in hand coordination task performance were observed.
- Adolescents born very preterm exhibited greater brain activation in the right precentral and postcentral gyri during left-hand tasks.
- Lower gestational age correlated with altered brain activation in parietal and cerebellar regions during specific hand coordination tasks.
Conclusions:
- Very preterm birth influences brain activation related to hand coordination, particularly for the non-dominant hand.
- Despite altered brain activity, clinical performance in hand coordination tasks remained comparable between groups.
Background:
Fine motor and coordination problems are frequently reported among adolescents born preterm. We aimed to assess performance in hand coordination tasks and to compare concurrent brain activation between adolescents born very preterm and at term at 13 years.
Methods:
A total of 34 right-handed adolescents born very preterm (gestational age less than 32 weeks/birth weight ≤1500 grams) and 37 controls born at term during 2003 to 2006 in Turku University Hospital, Finland, were recruited. At 13 years, finger opposition and diadochokinesis were assessed, and brain functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired while the adolescents performed unimanual hand coordination tasks in response to visual cue.
Results:
Adolescents born very preterm performed similar to controls in hand coordination tasks. The very preterm group evoked greater brain activation than the controls in the right precentral gyrus and in the right postcentral gyrus during left-hand finger opposition and in the right postcentral gyrus during left-hand diadochokinesis. Within the very preterm group, lower gestational age was associated with reduced activation in the left superior parietal lobule during right-hand diadochokinesis. Regarding left-hand tasks, lower gestational age was associated with stronger activation in the right cerebellar lobule V and left cerebellar lobule VI during finger opposition and stronger activation in the right superior parietal lobule during diadochokinesis.
Conclusions:
Very preterm birth affected hand coordination-related brain activation. Most of the effects were found for nondominant hand. Clinical performance during the hand coordination tasks was similar in adolescents born very preterm and controls.
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