title: Untrivial Pursuit: Measuring Motor Procedures Learning in Children with Autism.
abstract: Numerous studies have underscored prevalence of motor impairments in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but only few of them have analyzed motor strategies exploited by ASD children when learning a new motor procedure. To evaluate motor procedure learning and performance strategies in both ASD and typically developing (TD) children, we built a virtual pursuit rotor (VPR) task, requiring tracking a moving target on a computer screen using a digitalized pen and tablet. Procedural learning was measured as increased time on target (TT) across blocks of trials on the same day and consolidation was assessed after a 24-hour rest. The program and the experimental setting (evaluated in a first experiment considering two groups of TD children) allowed also measures of continuous time on target (CTT), distance from target (DT) and distance from path (DP), as well as 2D reconstructions of children's trajectories. Results showed that the VPR was harder for children with ASD than for TD controls matched for chronological age and intelligence quotient, but both groups displayed comparable motor procedure learning (i.e., similarly incremented their TT). However, closer analysis of CTT, DT, and DP as well as 2D trajectories, showed different motor performance strategies in ASD, highlighting difficulties in overall actions planning. Data underscore the need for deeper investigations of motor strategies exploited by children with ASD when learning a new motor procedure.
authors: Language and Communication Across Modalities Laboratory (LaCAM), Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (ISTC), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Nomentana 56, 00161, Rome, RM, Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Sparaci
authors: Laboratory of Biomedical Robotics and Biomicrosystems, (CIR), University Campus Biomedico, Rome, RM, Italy.
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Formica
authors: Language and Communication Across Modalities Laboratory (LaCAM), Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (ISTC), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Nomentana 56, 00161, Rome, RM, Italy.
authors: Francesca Romana
authors: FR
authors: Lasorsa
authors: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, RM, Italy.
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Mazzone
authors: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, RM, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Valeri
authors: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, RM, Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Vicari
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: autism; handwriting; motor skills; procedural learning; pursuit rotor