Motor planning and movement execution during goal-directed sequential manual movements in 6-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder: A kinematic analysis

Anna Bäckström,Anna-Maria Johansson,Thomas Rudolfsson,Louise Rönnqvist,Claes Von Hofsten,Kerstin Rosander,Erik Domellöf

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104014

Anna Bäckström, Anna-Maria Johansson + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104014

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Abstract

BackgroundAtypical motor functioning is prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Knowledge of the underlying kinematic properties of these problems is sparse. AimsTo investigate characteristics of manual motor planning and performance difficulties/diversity in children with ASD by detailed kinematic measurements. Further, associations between movement parameters and cognitive functions were explored. Methods and proceduresSix-year-old children with ASD (N = 12) and typically developing (TD) peers (N = 12) performed a sequential manual task comprising grasping and fitting a semi-circular peg into a goal-slot. The goal-slot orientation was manipulated to impose different motor planning constraints. Movements were recorded by an optoelectronic system. Outcomes and resultsThe ASD-group displayed less efficient motor planning than the TD-group, evident in the reach-to-grasp and transport kinematics and less proactive adjustments of the peg to the goal-slot orientations. The intra-individual variation of movement kinematics was higher in the ASD-group compared to the TD-group. Further, in the ASD-group, movement performance associated negatively with cognitive functions. Conclusions and implicationsPlanning and execution of sequential manual movements proved challenging for children with ASD, likely contributing to problems in everyday actions. Detailed kinematic investigations contribute to the generation of specific knowledge about the nature of atypical motor performance/diversity in ASD. This is of potential clinical relevance.

Highlights

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition characterized by socio-communicative difficulties and repetitive/restricted behavior that affect everyday life and contribute to functional limitations in school, work and/or social relations (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)
The results indicate that while younger children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) plan and adjust movement execution in relation to the goal to some extent, they do not modulate their initial movements to the extent needed for rapid and efficient goal fitting movements
The children with ASD showed impairments compared with typically developing (TD) children in their ability to plan and execute sequential goal-directed manual actions

Summary

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition characterized by socio-communicative difficulties and repetitive/restricted behavior that affect everyday life and contribute to functional limitations in school, work and/or social relations (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The generation of highly detailed movement data enables a more precise description of what seems to characterize the movement problems associated with the condition This type of specific knowledge is of importance for the development of relevant interventions. These functions have been suggested to contribute to the atypical motor behaviors observed in this condition (von Hofsten & Rosander, 2012). Detailed kinematic investigations contribute to the generation of specific knowledge about the nature of atypical motor performance/diversity in ASD.

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