scholarly journals Dissociating experience-dependent and maturational changes in fine motor function during adolescence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Berencsi ◽  
Ferenc Gombos ◽  
Patricia Gervan ◽  
Zsofia Troznai ◽  
Katinka Utczas ◽  
...  

Adolescence is a sensitive period in motor development but little is known about how long-term learning dependent processes shape hand function in tasks of different complexity. We mapped two fundamental aspects of hand function: simple repetitive and complex sequential finger movements, as a function of the length of musical instrumental training. We controlled maturational factors such as chronological and biological age of adolescent female participants (11 to 15 years of age, n=114). We demonstrated that experience improves performance as a function of task complexity, the more complex task being more susceptible for experience driven performance changes. Overall, these results suggest that fine motor skills involving cognitive control and relying on long-range functional brain networks are substantially shaped by experience. On the other hand, performance in a simple repetitive task that explains fine motor speed is primarily shaped by white matter development driven by maturational factors.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 776-776
Author(s):  
Samantha Lindsey ◽  
Judi Brooks ◽  
Anahita Mistry ◽  
Renee Lajiness-O'Neill ◽  
Angela Lukomski

Abstract Objectives Achieving sensorimotor (SEM) milestones is one measure of early infant brain development promoted through higher docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels. Both breastmilk and formula contain DHA, with a global level of 0.32% in breastmilk and many formula brands. However, a 2017 study of Midwestern U.S. mothers found significantly lower breastmilk DHA levels. It was thus hypothesized that infants fed formula would have higher SEM scores. The objective of this study was to measure differences in SEM development between infants fed breastmilk, formula, or a combination in participants of the PediaTrac™ Project. PediaTrac is a web-based measure providing longitudinal, real time, multidomain data on infant and toddler growth and development at time periods corresponding to well child visits. Methods Using PediaTrac, data were collected from 548 caregiver-infant dyads across multiple Midwestern sites. Caregivers reported the primary nutrition source as breastfeeding, formula or combination. Their responses to gross and fine motor function questions were used to create a SEM composite, Percent of Maximum Possible (POMP) score at newborn (NB), 2-, 4- and 6-months. Data were analyzed via ANOVA and Tukey test using SPSS. Results Infants fed formula had statistically higher mean SEM scores at NB (M = 0.618Formula, M = 0.590Breast, p = 0.017), 2- (M = 0.706Formula, M = 0.680Breast, p = 0.006) and 6-months (M = 0.727Formula, M = 0.696Breast, p = 0.014) compared to breastfed infants. Mean SEM scores of combination fed infants were higher than breastfed infants at 2- (M = 0.701Combination, M = 0.680Breast, p = 0.184), 4- (M = 0.684Combination, M = 0.673Breast, p = 0.573) and 6-months (M = 0.704Combination, M = 0.696Breast, p = 0.895), despite no significant differences between scores. Conclusions Formula fed infants showed consistently higher SEM scores than breastfed infants in the first 6-months. These findings contradict previous research, indicating a need for further investigation into variables contributing to these discrepancies such as maternal breastmilk DHA concentrations, socioeconomic factors, site specific confounds, accuracy of parent reports of motor development, etc. Funding Sources Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health. EMU College of Health & Human Services Research Support Award.


10.2196/12434 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e12434
Author(s):  
Diego Rivera ◽  
Antonio García ◽  
Jose Eugenio Ortega ◽  
Bernardo Alarcos ◽  
Kevin van der Meulen ◽  
...  

Background Pegboard tests are a powerful technique used by health and education professionals to evaluate manual dexterity and fine motor speed, both in children and adults. Using traditional pegboards in tests, the total time that, for example, a 4-year-old child needs for inserting pegs in a pegboard, with the left or right hand, can be measured. However, these measurements only allow for studying the variability among individuals, whereas no data can be obtained on the intraindividual variability in inserting and removing these pegs with one and the other hand. Objective The aim of this research was to study the intraindividual variabilities in fine manual motor skills of 2- to 3-year-old children during playing activities, using a custom designed electronic pegboard. Methods We have carried out a pilot study with 39 children, aged between 25 and 41 months. The children were observed while performing a task involving removing 10 pegs from 10 holes on one side and inserting them in 10 holes on the other side of a custom-designed sensor-based electronic pegboard, which has been built to be able to measure the times between peg insertions and removals. Results A sensor-based electronic pegboard was successfully developed, enabling the collection of single movement time data. In the piloting, a lower intraindividual variability was found in children with lower placement and removal times, confirming Adolph et al’s hypothesis. Conclusions The developed pegboard allows for studying intraindividual variability using automated wirelessly transmitted data provided by its sensors. This novel technique has been useful in studying and validating the hypothesis that children with lower movement times present lower intraindividual variability. New research is necessary to confirm these findings. Research with larger sample sizes and age ranges that include additional testing of children’s motor development level is currently in preparation.


Edupedia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-77
Author(s):  
Farhatin Masrurah ◽  
Khulusinniyah Khulusinniyah

The first five years of a children’s age is the period of rapid growth with physical and motor development. Those process will develop well if stimulated continuously. Early childhood always identic with high activity requires the opportunity to express their abilities. Therefore playing method is very urgent inchildren’s gross motor skills and fine motor skills development through a variety of playing activities both indoors and outdoors. Playing is an activity that cannot be separated from early childhood’s world. All playing activities will be carried out happily. By the same token learning by playing will be done happily without any sense of being forced or oppressed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003151252110131
Author(s):  
Clarice Maria de Lucena Martins ◽  
Cain Craig Truman Clark ◽  
Rafael Miranda Tassitano ◽  
Anastácio Neco de Souza Filho ◽  
Anelise Reis Gaya ◽  
...  

Little is known of how reallocations of time spent in different movement behaviors during preschool might relate to preschoolers’ fundamental movement skills (FMS), a key predictor of later physical activity (PA). Thus, the aim of this study was to examine (a) whether preschoolers’ school-time movement was associated with their FMS and (b) the effects on FMS of reallocating time between PA and sedentary behavior (SB). This was a cross-sectional study, using intervention data with Brazilian low-income preschoolers. We observed Brazilian preschoolers of both sexes ( Mage = 4.5, SD = 0.8 years-old; 101boys) over 10 hours of school-time and objectively assessed their PA and SB with Actigraph wGT3X and their FMS with the Test of Gross Motor Development – Second Edition. We explored the associations between school-time movement behaviors and FMS and between reallocated school-time movement behaviors and FES using compositional analysis in R (version 1.40-1), robCompositions (version 0.92-7), and lmtest (version 0.9-35) packages. This isotemporal reallocation showed that, for manipulative skills, reallocating time (5, 10, and 15 minutes, respectively) from light PA to SB was associated with increasing skill (0.14, 0.28, and 0.42 FMS units), raising questions as to whether fine motor activity occurred during SB. Thus, school-time movement significantly predicted FMS, with a modest increase in SB, at the expense of light PA eliciting improved manipulative skills.


2021 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 102748
Author(s):  
Yu-Ting Tseng ◽  
Fu-Chen Chen ◽  
Chia-Liang Tsai ◽  
Jürgen Konczak

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-244
Author(s):  
James A. Salbenblatt ◽  
Deborah C. Meyers ◽  
Bruce G. Bender ◽  
Mary G. Linden ◽  
Arthur Robinson

Neuromuscular deficits described in early childhood as motor awkwardness or slow movements are still clinically present in school-aged boys with XXY and XYY sex chromosome aneuploidy. A control group of 14 boys (6 to 19 years of age) and 14 XXY and four XYY boys (6 to 15 years of age), identified by newborn screening, were blindly evaluated by a physical therapist. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) was administered and a clinical rating of neurologic status and sensory-motor integration was assigned. On the motor proficiency test, the XXY boys had significantly lower mean scores for upper limb coordination, speed and dexterity, and on gross motor and battery composites. The neuromuscular status of the aneuploid boys was deficient, with hypotonia, apraxia, primitive reflex retention, and problems with bilateral coordination and visual-perceptual-motor integration. This mild to moderate dysfunctional sensory-motor integration, as well as previously described auditory-processing deficits and dyslexia, contributed to school performance below that expected from their cognitive potential.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Mallet ◽  
Rany Shamloul ◽  
Michael Pugliese ◽  
Emma Power ◽  
Dale Corbett ◽  
...  

Background/aim We previously reported the feasibility of RecoverNow (a mobile tablet-based post-stroke communication therapy in acute care). RecoverNow has since expanded to include fine motor and cognitive therapies. Our objectives were to gain a better understanding of patient experiences and recovery goals using mobile tablets. Methods Speech-language pathologists or occupational therapists identified patients with stroke and communication, fine motor, or cognitive/perceptual deficits. Patients were provided with iPads individually programmed with applications based on assessment results, and instructed to use it at least 1 h/day. At discharge, patients completed a 19-question quantitative and open-ended engagement survey addressing intervention timing, mobile device/apps, recovery goals, and therapy duration. Results Over a six-month period, we enrolled 33 participants (three did not complete the survey). Median time from stroke to initiation of tablet-based therapy was six days. Patients engaged in therapy on average 59.6 min/day and preferred communication and hand function therapies. Most patients (63.3%) agreed that therapy was commenced at a reasonable time, although half expressed an interest in starting sooner, 66.7% reported that using the device 1 h/day was enough, 64.3% would use it after discharge, and 60.7% would use it for eight weeks. Sixty-seven percent of patients expressed a need for family/friend/caregiver to help them use it. Conclusion Our results suggest that stroke patients are interested in mobile tablet-based therapy in acute care. Patients in the acute setting prefer to focus on communication and hand therapies, are willing to begin within days of their stroke and may require assistance with the tablets.


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