Eye hand coordination in children with cerebral palsy

• Published in: Experimental brain research 2009-01, Vol.192 (2), p.155-165
• Main Authors: Saavedra, Sandra, Joshi, Aditi, Woollacott, Marjorie, van Donkelaar, Paul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Adolescent; Age Factors; Aging - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomedicine; Brain - growth & development; Brain - physiopathology; Cerebral palsy; Cerebral Palsy - complications; Cerebral Palsy - physiopathology; Child; Children; Development; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Eye hand coordination; Eye movements; Eye Movements - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hand - innervation; Hand - physiopathology; Hand eye coordination; Hands; Head; Head Movements - physiology; Humans; Kinematics; Male; Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration; Motor Skills Disorders - diagnosis; Motor Skills Disorders - etiology; Motor Skills Disorders - physiopathology; Movement Disorders - diagnosis; Movement Disorders - etiology; Movement Disorders - physiopathology; Neurologic Examination; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests; Neurosciences; Ocular Motility Disorders - diagnosis; Ocular Motility Disorders - etiology; Ocular Motility Disorders - physiopathology; Paralysis; Photic Stimulation; Posture; Posture - physiology; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Research Article; Sensorimotor system; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0014-4819; 1432-1106
• DOI: 10.1007/s00221-008-1549-8

Reaching to grasp an object of interest requires complex sensorimotor coordination involving eye, head, hand and trunk. While numerous studies have demonstrated deficits in each of these systems individually, little is known about how children with cerebral palsy (CP) coordinate multiple motor systems for functional tasks. Here we used kinematics, remote eye tracking and a trunk support device to examine the functional coupling of the eye, head and hand and the extent to which it was constrained by trunk postural control in 10 children with CP (6-16 years). Eye movements in children with CP were similar to typically developing (TD) peers, while hand movements were significantly slower. Postural support influenced initiation of hand movements in the youngest children (TD & CP) and execution of hand movements in children with CP differentially depending on diagnosis. Across all diagnostic categories, the most robust distinction between TD children and children with CP was in their ability to isolate eye, head and hand movements. Results of this study suggest that deficits in motor coordination for accurate reaching in children with CP may reflect coupled eye, head, and hand movements. We have previously suggested that coupled activation of effectors may be the default output for the CNS during early development.