Download Eye movement control and brain function in children

Eye Movement Control and Brain Function in Children with FASD
Authors: Paolozza, A., Hemington, K., Kully-Martens, K., Andrews, G.,
Rasmussen, C., and Reynolds, JN.
Background
Prenatal alcohol exposure is a major, preventable cause of behavioural and brain problems in children.
Despite lots of research, a unique phenotype* for children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure is not
available. We do know that the developing brain is a major target for alcohol and this can lead to
problems with learning and memory, social communication, attention, and sensory-motor skills.
*An individual’s observable characteristics or traits that result from their specific genetic make-up and the way our environment
can change the way these genes act.
The full range of negative effects produced by prenatal alcohol exposure is referred to as Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder (FASD). FASD is a major public health concern and it may occur as frequently as 2-5
per 100 live births1.
Problem
To identify an individual with FASD, many tests are used to evaluate the brain injury, growth and facial
features2. This procedure requires specialized training, a very large time commitment, and is not easily
available to people who live outside of major city centres. New ways of identifying brain injury in the
FASD population are needed. Recently, eye movement control has been used to test brain function in
other developmental disabilities. Our group has demonstrated that problems in eye movement control
can be measured in children with FASD3.
Research Question
 Can psychometric* test scores and saccadic** eye movement measurements be used to identify
brain injury in children with FASD?
*Measurement of knowledge, abilities and attitudes.
**Saccades are fast eye movements that redirect the eye to an area of interest.
What did we do?
In this multi-centre study, each child completed psychometric tests and saccadic eye movement tasks.
Psychometric tests measured:
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1
Working memory
Short term memory
May PA, Gossage JP, Kalberg WO, Robinson LK, Buckley D, Manning M, Hoyme HE (2009) Prevalence and epidemiologic
characteristics of FASD from various research methods with an emphasis on recent in-school studies. Dev Disabil Res Rev
15:176-192.
2
Chudley AE, Conry J, Cook JL, Loock C, Rosales T, LeBlanc N (2005) Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Canadian guidelines for
diagnosis. CMAJ 172:S1-S21.
3
Green CR, Mihic AM, Brien DC, Armstrong IT, Nikkel SM, Stade BC, Rasmussen C, Munoz DP, Reynolds JN (2009) Oculomotor
control in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders assessed using a mobile eye-tracking laboratory. Eur J Neurosci
29:1302-1309.
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Visuospatial skills (includes depth perception, face/shape recognition, following a map, reading)
Language
Math skills
Depending on age, each child completed the following saccadic eye movement tests that evaluated:
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Sensory processing
Attention
Impulse control/resisting temptation
Adapting to changing situations (cognitive flexibility)
Spatial working memory
What did we find?
Preliminary results revealed significant differences between children with FASD and typically developing
children in:
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Fine and gross motor skills
Accuracy
Impulse control/resisting temptation
Visual and spatial information processing
Why is this important?
 This study gives us more information about the brain injury associated with FASD, and this will
help with developing intervention programs for specific disabilities.