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Pollak RM, Burrell TL, Cubells JF, Klaiman C, Murphy MM, Saulnier CA, Walker EF, White SP, Mulle JG. Visual-Motor Integration Deficits in 3q29 Deletion Syndrome. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:3142-3154. [PMID: 37354284 PMCID: PMC11300491 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06034-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
3q29 deletion syndrome (3q29del) is associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental phenotypes. We previously reported that graphomotor weakness is present in up to 78% of individuals with 3q29del. We have now explored nuances of the graphomotor phenotype and its association with other comorbidities in this population. Participants were recruited from the online 3q29 registry (3q29deletion.org) for two days of deep phenotyping. 32 individuals with 3q29del (62.5% male) were evaluated with the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) to assess visual-motor integration. Participants were also evaluated with measures of cognitive ability, executive function, adaptive behavior, and school function. Males with 3q29del performed significantly worse than females on the VMI and Motor Coordination subtest. VMI performance was significantly associated with ADHD diagnosis and cognitive ability. Compared to published data from individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, individuals with 3q29del showed significantly more impairment. The 3q29 deletion is associated with substantial deficits in visual-motor integration, Visual Perception, and Motor Coordination. Our data suggests that 3q29del may qualify as a nonverbal learning disability. Future studies should assess whether individuals with 3q29del would benefit from early interventions, including occupational therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Pollak
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, 679 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - T Lindsey Burrell
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Joseph F Cubells
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Cheryl Klaiman
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Melissa M Murphy
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Celine A Saulnier
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
- Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting Services, Decatur, USA
| | | | - Stormi Pulver White
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Jennifer G Mulle
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, 679 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA.
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Cheam C, Barisnikov K, Gentaz E, Lejeune F. Multisensory Texture Perception in Individuals with Williams Syndrome. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1494. [PMID: 37761455 PMCID: PMC10528637 DOI: 10.3390/children10091494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The sensory profile of people with Williams syndrome (WS) is characterised by atypical visual and auditory perceptions that affect their daily lives and learning. However, no research has been carried out on the haptic perception, in particular in multisensory (visual and haptic) situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the communication of texture information from one modality to the other in people with WS. Children and adults with WS were included, as well as typically developing (TD) participants matched on chronological age (TD-CA), and TD children matched on mental age (TD-MA). All participants (N = 69) completed three matching tasks in which they had to compare two fabrics (same or different): visual, haptic and visuo-haptic. When the textures were different, the haptic and visual performances of people with WS were similar to those of TD-MA participants. Moreover, their visuo-haptic performances were lower than those of the two TD groups. These results suggest a delay in the acquisition of multisensory transfer abilities in individuals with WS. A positive link between MA and visual and visuo-haptic abilities only in people with WS suggests that they could benefit from an early intervention to develop their abilities to process and transfer multisensory information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Cheam
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland; (C.C.); (K.B.)
| | - Koviljka Barisnikov
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland; (C.C.); (K.B.)
| | - Edouard Gentaz
- Sensorimotor, Affective and Social Development Unit (SMAS), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland;
| | - Fleur Lejeune
- Sensorimotor, Affective and Social Development Unit (SMAS), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland;
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Pérez V, Martínez V, Diez-Itza E. Late phonological development in Williams syndrome. Front Psychol 2022; 13:992512. [PMID: 36467192 PMCID: PMC9709339 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.992512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome is a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder characterized by a unique phenotype, including mild to moderate intellectual disability and an uneven neuropsychological profile of relative strengths and weaknesses. Language structure components (i.e., phonology, morphosyntax, and vocabulary) have been considered an area of specific ability compared to pragmatic language use. However, research on phonological development in Williams syndrome is very scarce, and it suggests atypical patterns. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the profiles of late phonological development in Spanish-speaking children, adolescents, and adults with Williams syndrome, based on the analysis of five classes of processes (Syllable Structure, Substitution, Omission, Assimilation, and Addition) in spontaneous speech. The phonological profiles of seven children (aged 3-8 years), and seven adolescents and young adults (aged 14-25 years) with Williams syndrome were compared with two normative groups of typically developing (TD) children at different stages of late phonological development (aged 3 and 5 years). The frequency of phonological processes in the group of children with Williams syndrome was similar to that of 3-year-old TD children, which suggests that they would be in the first stage of late phonological development (expansion stage). The group of older individuals with Williams syndrome showed a much lower frequency of processes, similar to that of 5-year-old TD children in the last stage of phonological development (resolution stage). However, their phonological processes appeared to be persistent and independent of chronological age. Furthermore, asynchronies in quantitative and qualitative profiles (relative frequency) indicated atypical and complex trajectories in late phonological development, which cannot be described as simply delayed or protracted. Remarkable individual differences were observed, especially in the group of adolescents and adults with Williams syndrome, although the majority of cases conformed to the modal profiles of their groups. A major tendency for Omission, including final consonant deletion, may be considered atypical and specific to Williams syndrome at all ages. The results of the present study raise the need for continued and appropriate phonological assessment and treatment for people with Williams syndrome across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa Pérez
- LOGIN Research Group, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Escuelas Universitarias Gimbernat, University of Cantabria, Torrelavega, Spain
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Alfieri P, Scibelli F, Montanaro FAM, Caciolo C, Bergonzini P, Dentici ML, Vicari S. A Comparison of Adaptive Functioning Between Children With Duplication 7 Syndrome and Williams-Beuren Syndrome: A Pilot Investigation. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:863909. [PMID: 35599769 PMCID: PMC9120542 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.863909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Interstitial deletions of 7q11.23 cause the well-known Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS), while duplication of the same region leads to duplication 7 syndrome (Dup7). Children with WBS share a distinct neurobehavioral phenotype including mild to severe intellectual disability, severely impaired visual spatial abilities, relatively preserved verbal expressive skills, anxiety problems, enhanced social motivation (i.e., hypersociable behaviors) and socio-communicative problems. Children with Dup7 syndrome exhibit some "inverted" features when compared to those of individuals with WBS, such as reduced social motivation and impairment of expressive language. Direct comparison of WBS and Dup7 represents a unique opportunity for the neurobehavioral characterization of the 7q11.23 section. However, most of the available data come from qualitative analysis between different studies. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies directly comparing features of two matched samples of individuals with WBS and Dup7 syndromes. In this pilot study, we compare the adaptive functioning - measured with the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition - of two relatively small samples of children with molecularly confirmed diagnosis of WBS and Dup7 matched for IQ and chronological age, with a particular attention to socialization domain and expressive subdomain. Contrary to our assumption, we have not found any significant difference on socialization domain and expressive subdomains. This pilot investigation suggests that, when matched for chronological age and cognitive level, children with WBS and Dup7 share more similarities than expected. The inverted features that emerge in clinical settings on expressive language and social motivation seem not to differently interfere with the daily abilities to communicate and socialize with meaningful others during daily lives. Differences highlighted by previous undirected comparisons could be due to general and non-specific factors such as cognitive level, which is more severely impaired in individuals with WBS than Dup7. Implications for assessment and treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Alfieri
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Scibelli
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Alice Maria Montanaro
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Caciolo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Bergonzini
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Lisa Dentici
- Medical Genetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Centro di Riabilitazione Casa San Giuseppe, Opera Don Guanella, Rome, Italy
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Domínguez-García CM, Serrano-Juárez CA, Rodríguez-Camacho M, Moreno-Villagómez J, Araujo Solís MA, Prieto-Corona B. Neuropsychological intervention in attention and visuospatial skills in two patients with Williams syndrome with different types of genetic deletion. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY: CHILD 2022; 12:177-186. [PMID: 35476532 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2022.2063723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Williams Syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a distinctive physical, cognitive, and behavioral profile caused by a microdeletion in the q11.23 region of chromosome 7. The neuropsychological profile of WS is characterized by intellectual disability, hypersociability, and deficits, especially in attention and visuospatial skills. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of a neuropsychological intervention program in attention and visuospatial skills in two patients with WS (aged 7 and 13 years old) with different types of deletion (1.5 and 1.8 Mb). Cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive abilities were evaluated through various neuropsychological tests and scales; the neuropsychological intervention program was subsequently applied, and we assessed its effectiveness. Both patients initially presented significant deficits in attention and visuospatial skills. After the program, we found improvements in attention and visuospatial skills. In addition, both patients had significant clinical advances and changes in adaptive behaviors (social and self-care). These findings suggest that this intervention program could improve attention processes, visuospatial skills, and some aspects of adaptive behavior in patients with WS, regardless of deletion size. Although the sample was small, limiting the generalizability of the results, we believe this program could be a helpful resource for professionals working with individuals with WS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Alberto Serrano-Juárez
- Laboratorio de Neurometría, Grupo de Neurociencias, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, México
| | - Mario Rodríguez-Camacho
- Laboratorio de Neurometría, Grupo de Neurociencias, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, México
| | - Julieta Moreno-Villagómez
- Laboratorio de Neurometría, Grupo de Neurociencias, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, México
| | - María Antonieta Araujo Solís
- Servicio de Genética UMAE Hospital de Pediatría “Dr. Silvestre Frenk Freund”, CMN “Siglo XXI”, IMSS, Tlalnepantla, México
| | - Belén Prieto-Corona
- Laboratorio de Neurometría, Grupo de Neurociencias, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, México
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Pezzino AS, Marec-Breton N, Gonthier C, Lacroix A. Factors Explaining Deficits in Reading Acquisition: The Case of Williams Syndrome. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2021; 64:3894-3908. [PMID: 34520226 DOI: 10.1044/2021_jslhr-19-00404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Multiple factors impact reading acquisition in individuals with reading disability, including genetic disorders such as Williams syndrome (WS). Despite a relative strength in oral language, individuals with WS usually have an intellectual disability and tend to display deficits in areas associated with reading. There is substantial variability in their reading skills. While some authors have postulated that phonological deficits are at the source of their reading deficits, others have suggested that they can be attributed to visuospatial deficits. This study was the first to undertake an in-depth exploration of reading skills among French-speaking children and adults with WS. We tested the assumption that some factors influence performance on single-word identification among individuals with WS, with a focus on the roles of phonological awareness and visuospatial skills. Method Participants were 29 French-speaking adults with WS and 192 controls matched for nonverbal mental age and reading level. We administered tests assessing reading (decoding and word recognition), vocabulary (expressive and receptive), and phonological and visuospatial skills. We also controlled for chronological age and nonverbal reasoning. Results Phonemic awareness was the most predictive factor of single-word identification in the WS group. Visuospatial skills also contributed, but not more or beyond other factors. More broadly, reasoning skills may also have accounted for the variability in single-word identification in WS, but this was not the case for either chronological age or vocabulary. Conclusions There is considerable heterogeneity among adults with WS, who may be either readers or prereaders. Similar profiles identified among individuals with other specific learning disabilities suggest that high reading variability is not specific to the neuropsychological profile of WS. We discuss a multidimensional approach to the factors involved in reading deficits in WS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Pezzino
- Ventilatory Handicap Research Group (GRHV), University of Rouen Normandy, France
| | - Nathalie Marec-Breton
- Psychology Laboratory Cognition, Behaviour and Communication (LP3C), University of Rennes, France
| | - Corentin Gonthier
- Psychology Laboratory Cognition, Behaviour and Communication (LP3C), University of Rennes, France
| | - Agnès Lacroix
- Psychology Laboratory Cognition, Behaviour and Communication (LP3C), University of Rennes, France
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Carsone B, Green K, Torrence W, Henry B. Systematic Review of Visual Motor Integration in Children with Developmental Disabilities. Occup Ther Int 2021; 2021:1801196. [PMID: 34381323 PMCID: PMC8321716 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1801196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Original research articles regarding visual motor integration skills in children with developmental disabilities and the impact of occupational therapy were identified, appraised, and synthesized. Twenty-four articles were chosen for this review. Themes were noted during the critique of articles. Three themes emerged: "age," "gender," and "diagnosis." Regarding the impact on visual motor integration, there was strong evidence for age, moderate evidence for gender, and strong evidence for diagnosis. Future research investigating visual motor integration in children should control for age and diagnosis.
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Dentici ML, Bergonzini P, Scibelli F, Caciolo C, De Rose P, Cumbo F, Alesi V, Capolino R, Zanni G, Sinibaldi L, Novelli A, Tartaglia M, Digilio MC, Dallapiccola B, Vicari S, Alfieri P. 7q11.23 Microduplication Syndrome: Clinical and Neurobehavioral Profiling. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E839. [PMID: 33187326 PMCID: PMC7697259 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
7q11.23 Microduplication (dup7q11.23) syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder due to a recurring 1.5 to 1.8 Mb duplication of the Williams-Beuren Syndrome critical region. Dup7q11.23 has been associated with several neuro-behavioral characteristics such as low cognitive and adaptive functioning, expressive language impairment, anxiety problems and autistic features. In the present study, we analyze the clinical features of ten individuals in which array-CGH detected dup7q11.23, spanning from 1.4 to 2.1 Mb. The clinical characteristics associated with dup7q11.23 are discussed with respect to its reciprocal deletion. Consistent with previous studies, we confirm that individuals with dup7q11.23 syndrome do not have a homogeneous clinical profile, although some recurring dysmorphic features were found, including macrocephaly, prominent forehead, elongated palpebral fissures, thin lip vermilion and microstomia. Minor congenital malformations include patent ductus arteriosus, cryptorchidism and pes planus. A common finding is hypotonia and joint laxity, resulting in mild motor delay. Neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic assessment confirm that mild cognitive impairment, expressive language deficits and anxiety are recurring neurobehavioral features. New insights into adaptive, psychopathological and neurodevelopmental profiles are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lisa Dentici
- Medical Genetic Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (M.L.D.); (R.C.); (L.S.); (M.C.D.)
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (G.Z.); (M.T.)
| | - Paola Bergonzini
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (P.B.); (F.S.); (C.C.); (P.D.R.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Francesco Scibelli
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (P.B.); (F.S.); (C.C.); (P.D.R.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Cristina Caciolo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (P.B.); (F.S.); (C.C.); (P.D.R.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Paola De Rose
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (P.B.); (F.S.); (C.C.); (P.D.R.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Francesca Cumbo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (P.B.); (F.S.); (C.C.); (P.D.R.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Viola Alesi
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (V.A.); (A.N.)
| | - Rossella Capolino
- Medical Genetic Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (M.L.D.); (R.C.); (L.S.); (M.C.D.)
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (G.Z.); (M.T.)
| | - Ginevra Zanni
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (G.Z.); (M.T.)
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Sinibaldi
- Medical Genetic Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (M.L.D.); (R.C.); (L.S.); (M.C.D.)
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (G.Z.); (M.T.)
| | - Antonio Novelli
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (V.A.); (A.N.)
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (G.Z.); (M.T.)
| | - Maria Cristina Digilio
- Medical Genetic Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (M.L.D.); (R.C.); (L.S.); (M.C.D.)
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (G.Z.); (M.T.)
| | - Bruno Dallapiccola
- Scientific Directorate, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy;
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (P.B.); (F.S.); (C.C.); (P.D.R.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Alfieri
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy; (P.B.); (F.S.); (C.C.); (P.D.R.); (F.C.); (S.V.)
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Rombouts E, Maes B, Zink I. An investigation into the relationship between Quality of pantomime gestures and visuospatial skills. Augment Altern Commun 2020; 36:179-189. [PMID: 33043713 DOI: 10.1080/07434618.2020.1811760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
While children with developmental language disorder or Williams syndrome appear to use hand gestures to compensate for specific cognitive and communicative difficulties, they have different cognitive strength-weakness profiles. Their semantic and visuospatial skills potentially affect gesture quality such as iconicity. The present study focuses on untangling the unique contribution of these skills in the quality of gestures. An explicit gesture elicitation task was presented to 25 participants with developmental language disorder between 7 and 10 years of age, 25 age-matched peers with typical development, and 14 participants with Williams Syndrome (8-23 years). They gestured pictures of objects without using speech (pantomime). The iconicity, semantic richness, and representation technique of the pantomimes were coded. Participants' semantic association and visuospatial skills were formally assessed. Iconicity was slightly lower in individuals with Williams syndrome, which seems related to their visuospatial deficit. While semantic saliency was similar across participant groups, small differences in representation technique were found. Partial correlations showed that visuospatial skills and semantic skills were instrumental in producing clear pantomimes. These findings indicate that clinicians aiming to enhance individuals' natural iconic gestures should consider achieved iconicity, particularly in individuals with low visuospatial skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Rombouts
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Otorinolaryngology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bea Maes
- Parenting and Special Education Research Group, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inge Zink
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Otorinolaryngology, KU Leuven, Belgium
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Alterations in the Structural and Functional Connectivity of the Visuomotor Network of Children With Periventricular Leukomalacia. Semin Pediatr Neurol 2019; 31:48-56. [PMID: 31548024 PMCID: PMC6761984 DOI: 10.1016/j.spen.2019.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Children born preterm with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) demonstrate increased difficulties with tasks requiring visuomotor integration. The visuomotor integration network encompasses brain regions within frontal, parietal, and occipital cortices. Because of their proximity to the lateral ventricle the underlying white matter pathways are at a high risk of damage following PVL-related hypoxic-ischemic white matter injury. This study provides an exploratory analysis of the structural and functional connections within the visuomotor integration network, along with an a priori evaluation of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and frontal aslant tract. For each pathway, tracts within both hemispheres revealed decreased volume and number of reconstructed fibers and an increase in quantitative anisotropy and generalized fractional anisotropy. The connectivity results also indicate that there may be changes to both the structural integrity and functional integration of neural networks involved with visuomotor integration functions in children with PVL.
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Saj A, Heiz J, Barisnikov K. Where is the 'subjective straight ahead' in Williams syndrome? JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2017; 61:512-518. [PMID: 28185328 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with Williams Syndrome (WS) are known to have particular difficulties when performing visuo-spatial tasks, which could be related to their difficulties in using a specific reference system to determine spatial relations. The aim of the present study was to assess the internal representation of the body's sagittal plane, which is an important benchmark for an egocentric frame of reference. METHOD The results of 18 WS individuals (mean age = 20.5 ± 9.2 years) on the subjective straight ahead (SSA) task were compared with those of two healthy control groups composed of 36 participants matched on chronological age matched on chronological age (CA) and 30 young children matched on non-verbal intellectual ability (YC). RESULTS Individuals with WS showed a significant left deviation on the SSA body's sagittal plane representation compared with the chronological age control group and a marginal left deviation compared with the young children control group. A comparison with the objective SA (0°) showed a significant leftward deviation in the WS group but not in the two control groups. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with WS showed a significant leftward deviation in the SSA task. This bias of the body's longitudinal axe representation could have a negative impact on the use of an egocentric reference system, which could be the cause for their difficulties in defining spatial relations (e.g. location and orientation) necessary for performing spatial tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Saj
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology Unit, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, Child Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - J Heiz
- Department of Psychology, Child Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - K Barisnikov
- Department of Psychology, Child Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, University of Geneva, Switzerland
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