Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

87.5K

General movements and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age in infants born very preterm

Ninib Yakoub1,2, Marieken Asprion1, Stephanie Brezina1,2

  • 1Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Centre for Neurodevelopment, Growth and Nutrition of the Newborn, Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|January 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The quality of general movements in very preterm infants at 3 months is linked to better cognitive and motor skills at 2 years. However, this association may not be significant when considering other factors like socioeconomic status and neonatal health complications.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal neurology
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Movement science

Background:

  • Assessing neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm (VPT) infants is crucial.
  • General movements (GMs) are early indicators of neurological function.
  • The predictive value of GM quality for long-term outcomes in VPT infants requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between the quality of general movements (assessed by the Motor Optimality Score-Revised, MOS-R) at 3 months corrected age and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years corrected age in infants born very preterm.
  • To determine if GM quality has incremental predictive power for neurodevelopmental outcomes beyond known risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of infants born before 32 weeks' gestation.
  • General movements were video-recorded at 3 months corrected age and assessed using the MOS-R.
  • Neurodevelopment was evaluated at 2 years corrected age using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition.

Main Results:

  • Higher MOS-R scores were associated with better cognitive and motor development at 2 years.
  • These associations were attenuated after controlling for gestational age, birthweight, sex, socioeconomic status, and the presence of severe neonatal morbidities.
  • The study included 316 VPT infants with a mean gestational age of 28.7 weeks.

Conclusions:

  • The quality of general movements at 3 months corrected age shows an association with cognitive and motor development at 2 years in very preterm infants.
  • The incremental predictive value of general movement quality may be limited when considering socioeconomic status and the burden of severe neonatal morbidities.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Quantified Assessment of Infant's Gross Motor Abilities Using a Multisensor Wearable09:24

Quantified Assessment of Infant's Gross Motor Abilities Using a Multisensor Wearable

Published on: May 17, 2024

2.1K
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

11.8K

Related Concept Videos

Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the...
45.2K
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
383
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
423