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 fine 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.

Keywords: Extrastriate visual cortex; Motion perception; Motor function; Neonatal hypoglycemia; Prenatal drug exposure.

Figure 1

Distributions of (A) motion coherence thresholds, (B) stereoacuity and (C) visual acuity. Data are combined across the two cohorts of children.

Figure 2

Distributions of (A) visual motor integration, (B) visual perception and (C) motor coordination (D) total motor function (E) gross motor function, and (F) fine motor function. Data are combined across the two cohorts of children.