title: Visual processing in Noonan syndrome: dorsal and ventral stream sensitivity.
abstract: Global spatial and motion processing abilities were assessed in 18 patients with Noonan syndrome (NS) and in 43 matched controls using form and motion coherence testing, respectively. We observed a discrepancy between the two groups since the study group had significantly lower performances than the control group for form coherence while there was no impairment on motion coherence. All the patients were also assessed on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) to evaluate visuomotor skills. Thirteen of the 18 (72%) also had global poor performances on the M-ABC. The results show that children with NS have a specific impairment in the global processing of visuospatial information and are likely to have a specific ventral stream deficit as also suggested by the frequent visuomotor perceptual difficulties. Testing form and motion coherence thresholds may be a useful diagnostic tool for this group of patients, despite their normal cognitive abilities, since aspects of global form processing and visuomotor perceptual difficulties can be identified and potentially targeted for a specific rehabilitation program.
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù, Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alfieri
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cesarini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Rose
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Selicorni
authors.forename: Deny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Menghini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guzzetta
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baranello
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tinelli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mallardi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zampino
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: Janette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mercuri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D009634:Noonan Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*