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Assessing the impact of infantile hydrocephalus on visuomotor integration through behavioural and neuroimaging
Derya Adil1, Emma Duerden1,2, Roy Eagleson1,3
1Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
Insights
Infantile hydrocephalus impairs visuomotor functions and neural connectivity in children. This study reveals reduced functional connectivity in visuomotor pathways, impacting brain regions crucial for visual processing and motor skills.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Infantile hydrocephalus significantly affects neurodevelopment.
- Long-term consequences on visuomotor functions require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of infantile hydrocephalus on functional connectivity in the posterior cortex.
- To correlate neural connectivity findings with visuomotor behavioral outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) was employed for functional connectivity analysis.
- Analysis focused on the visuomotor integration network, including specific white matter tracts.
- 14 patients treated for infantile hydrocephalus were compared to 14 typically-developing controls (mean age 9 years).
Main Results:
- Patients exhibited reduced functional connectivity in visuomotor pathways compared to controls.
- Significant impacts were observed in the left and right fusiform gyrus and precuneus.
- Children with infantile hydrocephalus showed lower performance in visuomotor integration, visual processing, visuospatial skills, and motor coordination tasks.
Conclusions:
- Infantile hydrocephalus leads to altered functional connectivity in posterior cortical visuomotor networks.
- These neural alterations correlate with deficits in visuomotor integration and motor skills.
- Findings highlight the complex effects of infantile hydrocephalus on brain connectivity and behavior.
Abstract:
Infantile hydrocephalus considerably impacts neurodevelopment, warranting attention to potential long-term consequences on visuomotor functions. The current study investigated the impact of infantile hydrocephalus on functional connectivity within the posterior cortex. Fourteen patients, who were treated for infantile hydrocephalus, were matched for age and sex with 14 typically-developing controls. Both groups had a mean age of 9 years old. Resting-state functional MRI was used to conduct a functional connectivity analysis within the visuomotor integration network, including the inferior frontal occipital fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and frontal aslant tract. Patients had reduced functional connectivity in visuomotor pathways compared to typically-developing children with notable impact on the left and right fusiform gyrus and precuneus. Children with infantile hydrocephalus also performed significantly lower in tasks involving visuomotor integration, visual processing, visuospatial skills, motor coordination, and fine motor manipulation. This study enhances our understanding of the multifaceted impact of infantile hydrocephalus on both neural connectivity and considering behavioral outcomes.
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