Ylva Fredriksson Kaul1, Kerstin Rosander2, Claes von Hofsten2, Katarina Strand Brodd1,3, Gerd Holmström4, Alexander Kaul1, Birgitta Böhm5, Lena Hellström-Westas1. 1. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 2. Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 3. Centre for Clinical Research Sörmland, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 4. Department of Neuroscience/Ophthalmology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 5. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Typically developing infants track moving objects with eye and head movements in a smooth and predictive way at 4 mo of age, but this ability is delayed in very preterm infants. We hypothesized that visual tracking ability in very preterm infants predicts later neurodevelopment. METHOD: In 67 very preterm infants (gestational age<32 wk), eye and head movements were assessed at 4 mo corrected age while the infant tracked a moving object. Gaze gain, smooth pursuit, head movements, and timing of gaze relative the object were analyzed off line. Results of the five subscales included in the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-III) at 3 y of age were evaluated in relation to the visual tracking data and to perinatal risk factors. RESULTS: Significant correlations were obtained between gaze gain and cognition, receptive and expressive language, and fine motor function, respectively, also after controlling for gestational age, severe brain damage, retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. CONCLUSION: This is the first study demonstrating that the basic ability to visually track a moving object at 4 mo robustly predicts neurodevelopment at 3 y of age in children born very preterm.
BACKGROUND: Typically developing infants track moving objects with eye and head movements in a smooth and predictive way at 4 mo of age, but this ability is delayed in very preterm infants. We hypothesized that visual tracking ability in very preterm infants predicts later neurodevelopment. METHOD: In 67 very preterm infants (gestational age<32 wk), eye and head movements were assessed at 4 mo corrected age while the infant tracked a moving object. Gaze gain, smooth pursuit, head movements, and timing of gaze relative the object were analyzed off line. Results of the five subscales included in the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-III) at 3 y of age were evaluated in relation to the visual tracking data and to perinatal risk factors. RESULTS: Significant correlations were obtained between gaze gain and cognition, receptive and expressive language, and fine motor function, respectively, also after controlling for gestational age, severe brain damage, retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. CONCLUSION: This is the first study demonstrating that the basic ability to visually track a moving object at 4 mo robustly predicts neurodevelopment at 3 y of age in children born very preterm.
Authors: L R Ment; H S Bada; P Barnes; P E Grant; D Hirtz; L A Papile; J Pinto-Martin; M Rivkin; T L Slovis Journal: Neurology Date: 2002-06-25 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Victoria A A Beunders; Marijn J Vermeulen; Jorine A Roelants; Nienke Rietema; Renate M C Swarte; Irwin K M Reiss; Johan J M Pel; Koen F M Joosten; Marlou J G Kooiker Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2020-10-18 Impact factor: 3.756