Visuo-perceptual Abilities in Children With Perinatal Arterial Ischemic Stroke and Associated White Matter
Meghan Maiani1,2,3, Nisha Lahey2,3, Martin Bardhi2,3
1Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Insights
Children with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) show impaired visuoperceptual skills and reading abilities. Right-sided brain lesions in PAIS are linked to more significant deficits, underscoring the need for early screening.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Visuoperceptual skills are vital for child development.
- Understanding these skills in children with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) is limited.
- PAIS can affect brain development and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate visuoperceptual performance in children with PAIS.
- To examine the structural connectivity of visual pathways in children with PAIS.
- To compare outcomes based on lesion laterality.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 26 children with PAIS and 27 typically developing controls.
- Administered the Motor-Free Visual Perceptual Test (MVPT), Apples Test, and Jerry John's Basic Reading Inventory (BRI).
- Utilized diffusion-weighted MRI with tractography to analyze optic pathways.
Main Results:
- Children with PAIS demonstrated significantly lower scores on the MVPT and BRI, and longer completion times on the Apples Test compared to controls.
- Right hemisphere lesions were associated with more pronounced visuoperceptual and reading deficits than left-sided lesions.
- No significant correlations were found between white matter microstructure and visuoperceptual scores.
Conclusions:
- Early visuoperceptual screening is recommended for all children with PAIS, irrespective of motor function.
- Lesion laterality plays a role in the severity of visuoperceptual and reading impairments.
- Further research is needed to explore the impact of lesion location on visual pathway development.
Abstract:
Visuoperceptual skills are crucial for childhood development yet remain poorly understood in children with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS). This study examined visuoperceptual performance and structural connectivity of visual pathways in children with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke and typically developing controls. Participants completed the Motor-Free Visual Perceptual Test (MVPT), Apples Test, Jerry John's Basic Reading Inventory (BRI), and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with tractography of optic pathways. Visuoperceptual and reading scores were compared by group and lesion laterality. Twenty-six perinatal arterial ischemic stroke and 27 typically developing controls were recruited. Perinatal arterial ischemic stroke children scored significantly lower on the Motor-Free Visual Perceptual Test and Jerry John's Basic Reading Inventory and took longer on the Apples Test. Right hemisphere lesions were associated with greater deficits in visuoperceptual and reading than left-sided lesions. No correlations were found between white matter microstructure and visuoperceptual scores. Findings highlight the need for early visuoperceptual screening in perinatal arterial ischemic stroke, regardless of motor status, and further investigation by lesion laterality.
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