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Children With Idiopathic Toe Walking Display Different Cortical Activation Patterns When Interpreting Tactile
Jack H Donne1, Richard Beare2,3, Jennifer A Powell4
1School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Developmental Psychobiology
|June 17, 2026
Summary
Children with idiopathic toe walking (ITW) show different brain activity during tactile tests compared to typically developing peers. This suggests neural network differences in motor control and sensory integration in ITW.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Gait Analysis
Background:
- Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is characterized by an absence of heel strike during gait in typically developing children.
- Understanding the underlying neural mechanisms of ITW is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cortical activation differences in children with ITW during a tactile sensation test compared to typically developing controls.
- To explore the relationship between ITW and functional brain network variations.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to assess brain activity.
- Participants (15 ITW, 15 controls) performed a two-point discrimination test during the fMRI scan.
- A standard block design was utilized for data acquisition.
Main Results:
- Four clusters of significant activation differences were identified between the groups.
- Typically developing children exhibited greater activation than the ITW group in several brain regions.
- Key areas with reduced activation in ITW included the right inferior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, and precuneus.
Conclusions:
- Children with ITW demonstrate altered cortical activation in brain regions vital for executive function, motor planning, and sensory integration.
- These findings suggest that ITW is associated with functional differences within neural networks governing motor control and sensory processing.
- The study supports a neurodevelopmental basis for idiopathic toe walking.
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