title: Deficient motor timing in children with neurofibromatosis type 1.
abstract: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common single-gene disorders affecting fine and visual-motor skills. This case-control study investigated motor timing as a possible related performance deficit in children with NF1. A visual-motor reaction time (VRT) test was administered in 20 NF1 children (mean age 9 years 7 months) and 20 age- and gender-matched typically developing (TD) children. Copying and tracing performance were evaluated using the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI). Children with NF1 responded with an increased reaction time (RT) to temporally predictive stimuli compared to TD children, whereas RT at unpredictive stimuli did not differ between groups. Motor timing indexed by the RT decrease at predictive stimuli significantly associated with the Beery VMI copy and tracing outcomes. Deficient motor timing as an actual symptom may add to further research on the pathogenesis of NF1-associated motor impairment and the development of more effective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Campus Heymans, Ghent University Hospital, 2B3, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Julie.debrabant@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debrabant
authors.affiliation: Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, & Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Plasschaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Campus Heymans, Ghent University Hospital, 2B3, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caeyenberghs
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vingerhoets
authors.affiliation: Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, & Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Legius
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Campus Heymans, Ghent University Hospital, 2B3, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Waelvelde
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Children; Motor development; Motor timing; Neurofibromatosis type 1; Reaction time