Global motion perception is related to motor function in 4.5-year-old children born at risk of abnormal development

Abstract

Global motion perception is often used as an index of dorsal visual stream function in neurodevelopmental studies. However, the relationship between global motion perception and visuomotor control, a primary function of the dorsal stream, is unclear. We measured global motion perception (motion coherence threshold; MCT) and performance on standardized measures of motor function in 606 4.5-year-old children born at risk of abnormal neurodevelopment. Visual acuity, stereoacuity and verbal IQ were also assessed. After adjustment for verbal IQ or both visual acuity and stereoacuity, MCT was modestly, but significantly, associated with all components of motor function with the exception of gross motor scores. In a separate analysis, stereoacuity, but not visual acuity, was significantly associated with both gross and fine motor scores. These results indicate that the development of motion perception and stereoacuity are associated with motor function in pre-school children.

Global motion perception is associated with motor function in 2-year-old children

“…Also in agreement with our data from 4.5 year old children [8], when controlling for language score, we observed that stereopsis was associated with fine and composite motor scores whereas binocular visual acuity was not significantly associated with any of the motor scores. These results reinforce the importance of binocular vision for the development of fine motor skills, and demonstrate that stereopsis and fine motor function are associated early in childhood.…”

“…The similarity between the results we report here for 2 year old children and those we reported previously for 4.5 year old children [8] is striking. In both studies, motion coherence thresholds were modestly but significantly associated with both gross motor and overall motor function, even when controlling for general cognitive ability, as indicated by Bayley-III language scores.…”

“…Binocular vision [1], and, to a lesser extent, visual acuity [15] have each been associated with motor function in normally developing pre-school and school age children. In our previous study, we observed a significant association between stereopsis and motor function at 4.5 years of age [8]. Visual acuity was not significantly associated with fine or gross motor function at 4.5 years, but there was an association with overall motor function.…”

“…However, we and others have recently demonstrated modest but statistically significant associations between motion coherence thresholds and motor development in children [5, 8]. We found an association between motion coherence thresholds and standardized clinical measures of visuomotor integration and gross (but not fine) motor function in a group of 606 4.5-year-old children born at risk of abnormal neurodevelopment [8]. Similarly, Braddick et al [5] found that motion, but not form coherence thresholds were associated with visuomotor integration and posterior parietal lobe development in a group of 154 normally developing 5–12 year olds.…”

“…Data from these children were reported in our recent study into the association between global motion perception and motor function at 4.5 years of age [8]. …”