Haptic perception is altered in children with developmental coordination disorder. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tseng, Yu-Ting; Holst-Wolf, Jessica M.; Tsai, Chia-Liang; Chen, Fu-Chen; Konczak, Jürgen
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychologia. Volume 127(2019)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: DCD developmental coordination disorder -- CPH center-point-height, TD, typically developing; Human -- Motor control -- Motor development -- Neurodevelopment -- Perceptual development -- Somatosensory -- Thresholds; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.02.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3932

Abstract

Abstract: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the motor system, but it may also present with signs of somatosensory dysfunction. This study examined whether haptic perception, which relies on somatosensory afferents, is impaired in children with DCD. Haptic sensitivity and acuity were systematically quantified in children with DCD and contrasted to the performance of typically developing (TD) children and young adults (each group N = 20). All participants performed a curvature detection task measuring haptic sensitivity and a curvature discrimination task measuring haptic acuity. In both tasks, participants moved the index finger of their dominant hand over a surface contour and verbally indicated whether they could detect its curvature or discriminate between two curved contours. Based on their verbal responses haptic detection and discrimination thresholds were obtained. The main findings are as follows: First, the DCD group had significantly elevated haptic discrimination thresholds (lower haptic acuity) compared to both TD children and adult controls. Second, we found no evidence that haptic sensitivity is impaired in DCD. Third, haptic acuity significantly correlated with clinical motor measures, indicating that higher levels of haptic acuity were associated with higher motor abilities. We conclude that DCD may be associated with impaired haptic perception, which likely contributes to the observable fine motor deficits. Highlights: Haptic dysfunction is a common feature of DCD. Children with DCD show elevated haptic discrimination thresholds compared to age-matched TD children. Haptic acuity positively correlates with motor abilities in children with and without DCD. By the age of 9 years, no age-related differences in haptic discrimination are found between TD children and adults.