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Altered System-Level Integration Between Working Memory and Gaze Dynamics in Children Treated for Posterior Fossa
Sofia A Mironets1, Victoria I Ismatullina2, Timofey V Adamovich2
1Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia.
Psychology in Russia : State of the Art
|May 25, 2026
Summary
Children with posterior fossa tumors (PFT) show disrupted coordination between working memory and eye movements during reading. These cerebellar disruptions impact cognitive and oculomotor control, highlighting the need for tailored rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- The cerebellum's role in cognitive functions and language is increasingly recognized.
- Posterior fossa tumors (PFT) can impact neurodevelopment and cognitive abilities in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effects of PFT on children's spatial working memory and reading-related eye movements.
- To compare working memory and gaze control between pediatric PFT survivors and healthy peers.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study involving 119 children (59 PFT survivors, 60 controls).
- Utilized Drift Diffusion Modeling (DDM) for working memory dynamics (Spatial Span task).
- Employed Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) for eye-tracking data during reading and network analysis for cross-domain integration.
Main Results:
- Cerebellar disruption from PFT affects the coordination between working memory and oculomotor control.
- Controls exhibited organized gaze dynamics linked to working memory capacity; PFT patients showed reduced flexibility and altered connectivity.
- RQA revealed a unified dynamical system linking cognitive control and motor execution during reading in controls, which was altered in patients.
Conclusions:
- PFT and its treatment can cause subtle, system-level disruptions affecting cognitive-motor integration.
- Multimodal, temporally sensitive assessments are crucial for understanding PFT's impact and designing rehabilitation strategies.
