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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Potential Role of Endocannabinoids Signaling. Brain Sci 2015; 5:456-93. [PMID: 26529026 PMCID: PMC4701023 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci5040456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the unique features of prenatal alcohol exposure in humans is impaired cognitive and behavioral function resulting from damage to the central nervous system (CNS), which leads to a spectrum of impairments referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Human FASD phenotypes can be reproduced in the rodent CNS following prenatal ethanol exposure. Several mechanisms are expected to contribute to the detrimental effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing fetus, particularly in the developing CNS. These mechanisms may act simultaneously or consecutively and differ among a variety of cell types at specific developmental stages in particular brain regions. Studies have identified numerous potential mechanisms through which alcohol can act on the fetus. Among these mechanisms are increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, interference with the activity of growth factors, glia cells, cell adhesion molecules, gene expression during CNS development and impaired function of signaling molecules involved in neuronal communication and circuit formation. These alcohol-induced deficits result in long-lasting abnormalities in neuronal plasticity and learning and memory and can explain many of the neurobehavioral abnormalities found in FASD. In this review, the author discusses the mechanisms that are associated with FASD and provides a current status on the endocannabinoid system in the development of FASD.
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Lucas BR, Latimer J, Pinto RZ, Ferreira ML, Doney R, Lau M, Jones T, Dries D, Elliott EJ. Gross motor deficits in children prenatally exposed to alcohol: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics 2014; 134:e192-209. [PMID: 24913787 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-3733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gross motor (GM) deficits are often reported in children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), but their prevalence and the domains affected are not clear. The objective of this review was to characterize GM impairment in children with a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) or "moderate" to "heavy" maternal alcohol intake. METHODS A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted. Medline, Embase, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, PEDro, and Google Scholar databases were searched. Published observational studies including children aged 0 to ≤18 years with (1) an FASD diagnosis or moderate to heavy PAE, or a mother with confirmed alcohol dependency or binge drinking during pregnancy, and (2) GM outcomes obtained by using a standardized assessment tool. Data were extracted regarding participants, exposure, diagnosis, and outcomes by using a standardized protocol. Methodological quality was evaluated by using Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. RESULTS The search recovered 2881 articles of which 14 met the systematic review inclusion criteria. The subjects' mean age ranged from 3 days to 13 years. Study limitations included failure to report cutoffs for impairment, nonstandardized reporting of PAE, and small sample sizes. The meta-analysis pooled results (n = 10) revealed a significant association between a diagnosis of FASD or moderate to heavy PAE and GM impairment (odds ratio: 2.9; 95% confidence interval: 2.1-4.0). GM deficits were found in balance, coordination, and ball skills. There was insufficient data to determine prevalence. CONCLUSIONS The significant results suggest evaluation of GM proficiency should be a standard component of multidisciplinary FASD diagnostic services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara R Lucas
- Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Sydney, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia;The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, andPoche Centre for Indigenous Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia;Physiotherapy Department, and
| | - Jane Latimer
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, and
| | - Rafael Z Pinto
- Pain Management Research Institute, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia;Departamento de Fisioterapia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Presidente Prudente, Brazil
| | | | - Robyn Doney
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mandy Lau
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, and
| | - Taryn Jones
- Department of Health Professions, Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; and
| | | | - Elizabeth J Elliott
- Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Sydney, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia;The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, andThe Sydney Children's Hospital Networks (Westmead), Westmead, Australia
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Glass L, Ware AL, Mattson SN. Neurobehavioral, neurologic, and neuroimaging characteristics of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2014; 125:435-462. [PMID: 25307589 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-62619-6.00025-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can have deleterious consequences for the fetus, including changes in central nervous system development leading to permanent neurologic alterations and cognitive and behavioral deficits. Individuals affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, including those with and without fetal alcohol syndrome, are identified under the umbrella of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). While studies of humans and animal models confirm that even low to moderate levels of exposure can have detrimental effects, critical doses of such exposure have yet to be specified and the most clinically significant and consistent consequences occur following heavy exposure. These consequences are pervasive, devastating, and can result in long-term dysfunction. This chapter summarizes the neurobehavioral, neurologic, and neuroimaging characteristics of FASD, focusing primarily on clinical research of individuals with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure, although studies of lower levels of exposure, particularly prospective, longitudinal studies, will be discussed where relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Glass
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ashley L Ware
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sarah N Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Nguyen TT, Levy SS, Riley EP, Thomas JD, Simmons RW. Children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure experience reduced control of isotonic force. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2013; 37:315-24. [PMID: 22834891 PMCID: PMC3752030 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01896.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2011] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure can result in diverse and extensive damage to the central nervous system, including the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and cerebral cortex. Given that these brain regions are involved in the generation and maintenance of motor force, we predicted that prenatal alcohol exposure would adversely affect this parameter of motor control. We previously reported that children with gestational alcohol exposure experience significant deficits in regulating isometric (i.e., constant) force. The purpose of this study was to determine whether these children exhibit similar deficits when producing isotonic (i.e., graded) force. METHODS Children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and typically developing children completed a series of isotonic force contractions by exerting force on a load cell to match a criterion target force displayed on a computer monitor. Two levels of target force (5 or 20% of maximum voluntary force) were investigated in combination with varying levels of visual feedback. RESULTS Compared with control children, children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure generated isotonic force signals that were less accurate, more variable, and less complex in the time domain. Specifically, interactions were found between group and visual feedback for response accuracy and signal complexity, suggesting that these children have greater difficulty altering their motor output when visual feedback is low. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure produces deficits in regulating isotonic force, which presumably result from alcohol-related damage to developing brain regions involved in motor control. These children will most likely experience difficulty performing basic motor skills and daily functional skills that require coordination of finely graded force. Therapeutic strategies designed to increase feedback and, consequently, facilitate visual-motor integration could improve isotonic force production in these children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya T. Nguyen
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120
- SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - Susan S. Levy
- Motor Control Laboratory, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182
| | - Edward P. Riley
- SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - Jennifer D. Thomas
- SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - Roger W. Simmons
- Motor Control Laboratory, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182
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Nguyen TT, Ashrafi A, Thomas JD, Riley EP, Simmons RW. Children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure have different frequency domain signal characteristics when producing isometric force. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2012; 35:14-20. [PMID: 23238099 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2012.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2012] [Revised: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To extend our current understanding of the teratogenic effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the control of isometric force, the present study investigated the signal characteristics of power spectral density functions resulting from sustained control of isometric force by children with and without heavy prenatal exposure to alcohol. It was predicted that the functions associated with the force signals would be fundamentally different for the two groups. Twenty-five children aged between 7 and 17 years with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and 21 non-alcohol exposed control children attempted to duplicate a visually represented target force by pressing on a load cell. The level of target force (5 and 20% of maximum voluntary force) and the time interval between visual feedback (20 ms, 320 ms and 740 ms) were manipulated. A multivariate spectral estimation method with sinusoidal windows was applied to individual isometric force-time signals. Analysis of the resulting power spectral density functions revealed that the alcohol-exposed children had a lower mean frequency, less spectral variability, greater peak power and a lower frequency at which peak power occurred. Furthermore, mean frequency and spectral variability produced by the alcohol-exposed group remained constant across target load and visual feedback interval, suggesting that these children were limited to making long-time scale corrections to the force signal. In contrast, the control group produced decreased mean frequency and spectral variability as target force and the interval between visual feedback increased, indicating that when feedback was frequently presented these children used the information to make short-time scale adjustments to the ongoing force signal. Knowledge of these differences could facilitate the design of motor rehabilitation exercises that specifically target isometric force control deficits in alcohol-exposed children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya T Nguyen
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
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Simmons RW, Nguyen TT, Levy SS, Thomas JD, Mattson SN, Riley EP. Children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure exhibit deficits when regulating isometric force. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2012; 36:302-9. [PMID: 22014260 PMCID: PMC3578740 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2011.01625.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Production of isometric (i.e., constant) force is an essential component of performing everyday functional tasks, yet no studies have investigated how this type of force is regulated in children with confirmed histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. METHODS Children 7 to 17 years old with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (n = 25) and without exposure (n = 18) applied force to a load cell to generate an isometric force that matched a criterion target force displayed on a computer monitor. Two levels of target force were investigated in combination with 3 levels of visual feedback frequency that appeared on the computer monitor as a series of yellow dots. Force was maintained for 20 seconds and participants completed 6 trials per test condition. RESULTS Root-mean-square error, signal-to-noise ratio, and sample entropy indexed response accuracy, response variability, and signal complexity, respectively. The analyses revealed that in comparison with controls, children with gestational ethanol exposure were significantly less accurate and more variable in regulating their force output and generated a response signal with greater regularity and less complexity in the time domain. CONCLUSIONS Children with prenatal alcohol exposure experience significant deficits in isometric force production that may impede their ability to perform basic motor skills and activities in everyday tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger W Simmons
- Motor Control Laboratory, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182, USA.
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Domellöf E, Fagard J, Jacquet AY, Rönnqvist L. Goal-directed arm movements in children with fetal alcohol syndrome: a kinematic approach. Eur J Neurol 2011; 18:312-320. [PMID: 20629717 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2010.03142.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although many studies have documented deficits in general motor functioning in children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), few have employed detailed measurements to explore the specific nature of such disabilities. This pilot study explores whether three-dimensional (3D) kinematic analysis may generate increased knowledge of the effect of intrauterine alcohol exposure on motor control processes by detecting atypical upper-limb movement pattern specificity in children with FAS relative to typically developing (TD) children. METHODS Left and right arm and head movements during a sequential unimanual goal-directed precision task in a sample of children with FAS and in TD children were registered by an optoelectronic tracking system (ProReflex, Qualisys Inc.). RESULTS Children with FAS demonstrated evidently poorer task performance compared with TD children. Additionally, analyses of arm movement kinematics revealed atypical spatio-temporal organization in the children with FAS. In general, they exhibited longer arm movement trajectories at both the proximal and distal level, faster velocities at the proximal level but slower at the distal level, and more segmented distal movements. Children with FAS also showed atypically augmented and fast head movements during the task performance. CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate neuromotor deficits and developmental delay in goal-directed arm movements because of prenatal alcohol exposure. It is suggested that 3D kinematic analysis is a valid technique for furthering the understanding of motor control processes in children with FAS/fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. A combination with relevant neuroimaging techniques in future studies would enable a more clear-cut interpretation of how atypical movement patterns relate to underlying brain abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Domellöf
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University.,Kolbäcken Child Rehabilitation Centre, Umeå, Sweden
| | - J Fagard
- Laboratoire Psychologie de la Perception (CNRS UMR 8158), Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - A-Y Jacquet
- Laboratoire Psychologie de la Perception (CNRS UMR 8158), Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
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Mattson SN, Crocker N, Nguyen TT. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: neuropsychological and behavioral features. Neuropsychol Rev 2011; 21:81-101. [PMID: 21503685 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-011-9167-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 388] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2011] [Accepted: 04/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure can cause alterations to the developing brain. The resulting neurobehavioral deficits seen following this exposure are wide-ranging and potentially devastating and, therefore, are of significant concern to individuals, families, communities, and society. These effects occur on a continuum, and qualitatively similar neuropsychological and behavioral features are seen across the spectrum of effect. The term fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) has been used to emphasize the continuous nature of the outcomes of prenatal alcohol exposure, with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) representing one point on the spectrum. This paper will provide a comprehensive review of the neuropsychological and behavioral effects of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure, including a discussion of the emerging neurobehavioral profile. Supporting studies of lower levels of exposure, brain-behavior associations, and animal model systems will be included when appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Mattson
- Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Simmons RW, Madra NJ, Levy SS, Riley EP, Mattson SN. Co-regulation of movement speed and accuracy by children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. Percept Mot Skills 2011; 112:172-82. [PMID: 21466090 DOI: 10.2466/04.10.13.pms.112.1.172-182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The study investigated how children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure regulate movement speed and accuracy during goal-directed movements. 16 children ages 7 to 17 years with confirmed histories of heavy in utero alcohol exposure, and 21 nonalcohol-exposed control children completed a series of reciprocal tapping movements between two spatial targets. 5 different targets sets were presented, representing a range of task difficulty between 2 and 6 bits of information. Estimates of percent error rate, movement time, slope, and linear fit of the resulting curve confirmed that for goal-directed, reciprocal tapping responses, performance of the group with prenatal alcohol exposure was described by a linear function, as predicted by Fitts' law, by sacrificing movement accuracy. The index of performance was the same for the two groups: it initially increased, then leveled off for more difficult movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger W Simmons
- School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
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10
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Simmons RW, Thomas JD, Levy SS, Riley EP. Motor response programming and movement time in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcohol 2010; 44:371-8. [PMID: 20598488 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2010.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2009] [Revised: 12/07/2009] [Accepted: 02/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The present experiment assessed motor response programming and movement time in children with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (PEA). Alcohol-exposed children between the ages of 7 and 17 years were classified into two groups: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS: n=9) and children with PEA (PEA: n=19) but who did not have the defining characteristics of FAS. The FAS and PEA children were compared with non-alcohol-exposed children (NC: n=23) when completing two tasks: a simple reaction time task (RT alone condition) and a reaction plus movement task (RT+Move condition). The movement involved responding to an imperative stimulus signal and depressing three target buttons in a set sequence. Participants completed 24 trials each for the RT alone and RT+Move response conditions. Results indicated no significant differences in performance among FAS, PEA, and NC groups during the RT alone condition. However, during the RT+Move condition, the FAS group produced significantly longer and more variable RTs than the PEA and NC groups, which produced comparable RTs. The FAS group also produced significantly slower movement times when moving to all three targets, whereas movement time variability did not significantly differ as a function of group. The observed results indicate children with FAS experience deficits in response programming and movement time production.
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Li L, Coles CD, Lynch ME, Hu X. Voxelwise and skeleton-based region of interest analysis of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in young adults. Hum Brain Mapp 2009; 30:3265-74. [PMID: 19278010 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.20747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Though fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are among the most common developmental disorders, their understanding is incomplete. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which is sensitive to microstructural organization in white matter, may provide a relevant measure in this population demonstrating incompletely characterized white matter pathology. In this study, tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) routine and a skeleton-based region of interest analyses were employed to detect differences in DTI-derived metrics between young adults who were alcohol exposed and an unexposed control group. Participants include 28 with dysmorphic features associated with FAS, 29 who were prenatally exposed but do not show physical effects, and 25 with the same low socioeconomic status but unexposed. The TBSS analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in fractional anisotropy at the isthmus of the corpus callosum and its connected callosal fibers in dysmorphic individuals relative to controls (clusterwise P(FWE) < 0.05). This finding was consistent with that of the follow-up skeleton-based region of interest analysis (F((2,79)) = 3.256, p = 0.044). In addition, the patterns in axial and radial diffusivity changes suggest that demyelination may be associated with the degraded white matter integrity observed in the dysmorphic group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longchuan Li
- Biomedical Imaging Technology Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University/Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Simmons RW, Levy SS, Riley EP, Madra NM, Mattson SN. Central and peripheral timing variability in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2008; 33:400-7. [PMID: 19053974 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2008.00849.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study examined whether prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with increased motor timing variability when the timing response is partitioned into central clock variability, which indexes information processing at the central nervous system (CNS) level and motor delay variability, which reflects timing processes at the level of the peripheral nervous system. METHODS Eighteen children with histories of prenatal alcohol exposure and 22 control children were assigned to young (7 to 11 years) or older (12 to 17 years) groups. Children tapped a single response key with the index finger in synchrony with a series of externally generated tones (the paced phase). At the conclusion of these tones, children continued tapping (the continuation phase) while attempting to maintain the same rate of tapping imposed by the paced phase. Two blocks of tapping were completed with inter-tone-intervals set at either 400 or 900 milliseconds. Inter-response interval, central clock variability, and motor delay variability produced during the continuation phase were the dependent variables. RESULTS Mean inter-response interval for the 4 groups did not differ for either time interval. Central clock variability produced by the young alcohol-exposed group was significantly greater than the two older groups for the 400 millisecond interval and all other groups for the 900 millisecond interval. Motor delay variability produced by the young alcohol-exposed group was significantly greater than the other three groups for both time intervals. Central and motor delay variability in children with and without alcohol exposure was directly related to the duration of the interval to be reproduced. CONCLUSIONS Central and peripheral timing variability was significantly greater for the young alcohol-exposed children. This atypical timing may be related to the teratogenic effects of alcohol, although the negative effects are limited to younger alcohol-exposed children since there were no differences in central and peripheral timing variability between the older alcohol-exposed children and controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger W Simmons
- Motor Control Laboratory, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182, USA.
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Prenatal alcohol exposure delays acquisition and use of skilled reaching movements in juvenile rats. Physiol Behav 2008; 94:540-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2007] [Revised: 03/10/2008] [Accepted: 03/21/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Chappell TD, Margret CP, Li CX, Waters RS. Long-term effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the size of the whisker representation in juvenile and adult rat barrel cortex. Alcohol 2007; 41:239-51. [PMID: 17630085 PMCID: PMC2435078 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2007.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2006] [Revised: 03/23/2007] [Accepted: 03/27/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Children of mothers who abused alcohol during pregnancy are often reported to suffer from growth retardation and central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities. The use of prenatal alcohol exposed (PAE) animal models has revealed reductions in body and brain weights as well as regional specific brain deficits in neonatal pups. Recently, we and others reported reductions in the size of the posteromedial barrel subfield (PMBSF) in first somatosensory cortex (SI) associated with the representation of the large mystacial vibrissae in neonatal rats and mice that were exposed to alcohol at various times during gestation. While these reductions in barrel field size were reported in neonates, it was unclear whether similar reductions persisted later in life or whether some catch-up might take place in older animals. In the present study, we examined the effect of PAE on measures of barrel field size in juvenile (6 weeks of age) and adult (7 months of age) rats; body and brain weights were also measured. Pregnant rats (Sprague-Dawley) were intragastrically gavaged during gestational days 1-20 with alcohol (6 g/kg) to simulate a binge-like pattern of alcohol consumption (Alc); 6 g/kg alcohol produced blood alcohol levels ranging between 207.4 and 478.6 mg/dl. Chow-fed (CF), pair-fed (PF), and cross-foster (XF) groups served as normal, nutritional/stress, and maternal controls, respectively, for juvenile rats; an XF group was not included for adult rats. The major findings in the present study are (i) PAE significantly reduced the size of the total barrel field in Alc juvenile rats (13%) and adult rats (9%) compared to CF controls, (ii) PAE significantly reduced the total averaged sizes of individual PMBSF barrels in juvenile (14%) and adult (13%) rats, (iii) PAE did not significantly alter the septal area between barrels or the barrel pattern, (iv) PAE significantly reduced body weight of juvenile rats but only in comparison to PF controls (18%), (v) PAE significantly reduced whole brain (8%) and forebrain (7%) weights of juvenile rats but not adult rats, (vi) no differences were observed in forebrain/PMBSF body ratios nor was forebrain weight correlated with PMBSF area, and (vii) PAE resulted in a greater reduction in anterior barrels compared to posterior barrels. These results suggest that the effects of PAE previously reported in neonate PMBSF areas persist into adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyson D Chappell
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine, 855 Monroe Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
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Wozniak JR, Mueller BA, Chang PN, Muetzel RL, Caros L, Lim KO. Diffusion tensor imaging in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2006; 30:1799-806. [PMID: 17010147 PMCID: PMC2895767 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2006.00213.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure, which is associated with macrostructural brain abnormalities, neurocognitive deficits, and behavioral disturbances, is characterized as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in severe cases. The only published study thus far using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) showed microstructural abnormalities in patients with FAS. The current study investigated whether similar abnormalities are present in less severely affected, prenatally exposed patients who did not display all of the typical FAS physical stigmata. METHODS Subjects included 14 children, ages 10 to 13, with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and 13 matched controls. Cases with full-criteria FAS, mental retardation, or microcephaly were excluded. Subjects underwent MRI scans including DTI. RESULTS Although cases with microcephaly were excluded, there was a trend toward smaller total cerebral volume in the FASD group (p=0.057, Cohen's d effect size =0.73). Subjects with FASD had greater mean diffusivity (MD) in the isthmus of the corpus callosum than controls (p=0.013, effect size =1.05), suggesting microstructural abnormalities in this region. There were no group differences in 5 other regions of the corpus callosum. Correlations between MD in the isthmus and facial dysmorphology were nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that even relatively mild forms of fetal alcohol exposure may be associated with microstructural abnormalities in the posterior corpus callosum that are detectable with DTI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.
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Simmons RW, Thomas JD, Levy SS, Riley EP. Motor response selection in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2006; 28:278-85. [PMID: 16527448 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2006.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2005] [Revised: 12/06/2005] [Accepted: 01/10/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Previous work has reported timing delays in motor response selection in children with prenatal exposure to alcohol when the information load involved responding to two stimulus choices. The present study examined whether the delay in response selection extends to conditions in which the information load is increased to four and eight stimulus choices. Twenty children aged between 12 and 17 years with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) were compared to 17 non-alcohol-exposed controls (NC) on a reaction time (RT) task involving 1, 2, 4 or 8 visual stimulus choices. The task demands required the participant to release a response key as fast as possible when the stimulus light electronically paired with the response key was activated. With the number of stimulus choices expressed on a logarithmic scale, there was a significant and linear increase in RT for the FASD children as predicted by information processing theory. Additionally, the increase in RT for the FASD group was comparable to that observed for the NC children at each level of stimulus choice examined. It was concluded that FASD adolescents require additional time to process increasing amount of information, but that the time required for motor response selection is not delayed relative to control group performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger W Simmons
- Motor Control Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
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