Pilot study of a novel computerized task to assess spatial learning in children and adolescents with neurofibromatosis type 1.
Difficulties with visual-spatial learning are frequently observed and often considered to be the hallmark of neurocognitive impairment in neurofibromatosis type 1. The computerized Arena Maze is a virtual environment task that has been developed as a human paradigm to the Morris Water Maze, which is used to evaluate spatial learning in animal models. The authors evaluated this task as a measure of spatial learning in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 compared with their unaffected siblings. Affected children were able to learn the task and navigate the virtual environment; however, they performed more poorly on standard measures of spatial learning and spatial working memory than their siblings. The group with neurofibromatosis type 1 demonstrated decreased proficiency in earlier target trials and had more difficulty in remembering target location. This study demonstrates the potential utility of a novel virtual task to assess spatial learning deficits in children with neurofibromatosis type 1.
Departments of Neurology, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02446, USA. nicole.ullrich@childrens.harvard.edu
Nicole J
NJ
Ullrich
Lauren
L
Ayr
Emily
E
Leaffer
Mira B
MB
Irons
Celiane
C
Rey-Casserly
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014584:User-Computer Interface