Multilevel complex interactions between cognitive and motor domains in Williams syndrome

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Multilevel complex interactions between cognitive and motor domains in Williams syndrome Darren Hocking1*, Jasmine Menant2, Melanie Porter3, Christine Garnham1, Hannah Kirk1 and Kim Cornish1 1 Monash University, School of Psychology & Psychiatry, Australia 2 Neuroscience Research Australia, Australia 3 Macquarie University, Department of Psychology, Australia Background: Previous studies suggest that individuals with Williams syndrome (WS), a rare genetically based neurodevelopmental disorder, show a syndrome-specific neuromotor profile that may be reflective of a complex interaction between higher-level cognitive processes and visuomotor control. Here we aimed to characterise the effects of cognitive dual tasks on whole body control and their relationship with executive functioning (EF) and inattentive behaviours in individuals with WS. Methods: Nineteen adolescents and adults with WS were compared to mental age (MA) and chronological age (CA) matched typically developing controls. The spatiotemporal gait characteristics and stride-to-stride variability of gait timing were measured while participants performed single (i.e. preferred walking) and concurrent cognitive (i.e verbal fluency) tasks while walking. Relationships between dual task costs on gait parameters and behavioural measures of inattention and EF were also examined. Results: When compared to chronological age and MA, the WS group showed clear dual task costs during the concurrent verbal fluency task for a range of gait parameters (i.e. speed, step length, double support time), alongside increased intra-individual variability of gait timing, suggestive of compromised rhythmic stepping and balance control mechanisms. Critically, there were significant interactive influences between dual task motor costs and behavioural inattention, impulsivity and planning in the WS group, while there were no such associations in the MA and CA groups. Conclusion: Our findings show that higher-level cognitive functions associated with planning and EF constrain motor functioning in WS, suggestive of cerebellar-cortico dysfunction as a basis for atypical multilevel interactions across cognitive and motor domains. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the APEX Foundation for Research into Intellectual Disability (Australia). Keywords: Williams Syndrome, visuomotor control, Gait, executive control, executive functioning, Inattention hyperactivity, Dual Task Performance Conference: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 Nov - 2 Dec, 2012. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Motor Citation: Hocking D, Menant J, Porter M, Garnham C, Kirk H and Cornish K (2012). Multilevel complex interactions between cognitive and motor domains in Williams syndrome. Conference Abstract: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00150 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 25 Oct 2012; Published Online: 17 Nov 2012. * Correspondence: Dr. Darren Hocking, Monash University, School of Psychology & Psychiatry, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia, darren.hocking@monash.edu Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Darren Hocking Jasmine Menant Melanie Porter Christine Garnham Hannah Kirk Kim Cornish Google Darren Hocking Jasmine Menant Melanie Porter Christine Garnham Hannah Kirk Kim Cornish Google Scholar Darren Hocking Jasmine Menant Melanie Porter Christine Garnham Hannah Kirk Kim Cornish PubMed Darren Hocking Jasmine Menant Melanie Porter Christine Garnham Hannah Kirk Kim Cornish Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.