title: Mirror neuron activation in children with developmental coordination disorder: A functional MRI study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to reveal cortical areas that may contribute to the movement difficulties seen in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Specifically, we hypothesized that there may be a deficit in the mirror neuron system (MNS), a neural system that responds to both performed and observed actions. Using functional MRI, 14 boys with DCD (x=10.08 years ± 1.31, range=7.83-11.58 years) and 12 typically developing controls (x=10.10 years ± 1.15, range=8.33-12.00 years) were scanned observing, executing and imitating a finger sequencing task using their right hand. Cortical activations of mirror neuron regions, including posterior inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), ventral premotor cortex, anterior inferior parietal lobule and superior temporal sulcus were examined. Children with DCD had decreased cortical activation mirror neuron related regions, including the precentral gyrus and IFG, as well as in the posterior cingulate and precuneus complex when observing the sequencing task. Region of interest analysis revealed lower activation in the pars opercularis, a primary MNS region, during imitation in the DCD group compared to controls. These findings provide some preliminary evidence to support a possible MNS dysfunction in children with DCD.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, 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, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Licari
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jac
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billington
authors.affiliation: School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Yihui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Brain & Creativity Institute and Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, 3620A McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90089-2921, United States.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aziz-Zadeh
authors.affiliation: Brain & Creativity Institute and Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, 3620A McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90089-2921, United States.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.affiliation: Neurological Intervention & Imaging Service of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Ave, Nedlands 6009, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Winsor
authors.affiliation: Neurological Intervention & Imaging Service of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Ave, Nedlands 6009, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Roberts Rd., Subiaco 6008, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bynevelt
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D059167:Mirror Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011597:Psychomotor Performance
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Cortical function; Developmental coordination disorder (DCD); Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); Imitation; Mirror neuron system (MNS)