title: Motor imagery ability and internal representation of movement in children with probable developmental coordination disorder.
abstract: It has been hypothesised that deficits in the functioning of the mirror neuron system (MNS) and internal modelling may contribute to the motor impairments associated with DCD. These processes can be explored behaviourally through motor imagery paradigms. Motor imagery proficiency of children with and without probable DCD (pDCD) was examined using a complex hand rotation task to explore whether motor imagery strategies could be used during more complex tasks. Forty-four boys aged 7-13 years participated, 22 with pDCD (mean = 9.90 years ± 1.57) and 22 controls (mean = 9.68 years ± 1.53). Participants completed the task twice: with and without motor imagery instructions. Stimuli were presented in two rotational axes--palm/back, and eight 45° rotational steps. Both groups showed evidence of following the biomechanical and postural constraints of actual movements. Responses of children with pDCD were slower and less accurate than controls, with group differences increasing alongside task complexity. A greater impact of biomechanical constraints for accuracy was observed in the DCD group. The response characteristics of children with pDCD likely reflects a reduced capacity to mentally manipulate a body schema and reduced visuo-motor processing capabilities. Behaviourally, these processes are linked to MNS and internal modelling function, suggesting deficits in these systems may contribute to the movement difficulties characteristic of DCD.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health, The University of Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: jessica.reynolds@research.uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jess E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Licari
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Brendan S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lay
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, and School of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001076:Aptitude / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D059167:Mirror Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012399:Rotation
keywords: Developmental coordination disorder; Internal (forward) modelling; Mental rotation; Mirror neuron system; Motor imagery