Neural correlates of developmental coordination disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To review neuroimaging studies in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) systematically. Because only a few studies addressed this, we broadened our search and included neuroimaging studies in children with perinatal adversities and motor impairment without cerebral palsy.


METHODS
Two searches were performed in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science addressing (1) neuroimaging in DCD and (2) neuroimaging in children with perinatal adversities and motor impairment.


RESULTS
Five studies in children with DCD were identified. Four functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies showed that children with DCD activate multiple brain areas differently than controls. One diffusion tensor imaging study indicated that the internal capsule in children with DCD showed differences. The second search identified seven studies: three showed that white matter abnormalities and severe abnormalities on MRI were related to motor impairment; four were unable to demonstrate similar relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
Data on neuroimaging in DCD are scarce; data available suggest that multiple brain areas are involved in the neuropathophysiology of DCD. Motor impairment in children with perinatal adversities is related especially to white matter abnormalities and severe abnormalities on MRI. We hypothesize that in some children with DCD the neural substrate mimics that of cerebral palsy. More neuroimaging studies are needed to understand the neural correlates of DCD better.
Department of Paediatrics - Developmental Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Lieke H J
LH
Peters
Carel G B
CG
Maathuis
Mijna
M
Hadders-Algra
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology