Abstract
We have previously reported that damage to the posterior corpus callosum might explain some of the subtle cognitive processing deficits found later in many preterm infants. To test this hypothesis we carried out motor tests of interhemispheric control in 197 consecutively examined very preterm infants(<33 weeks gestation) at eight years. In addition to the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) and other studies, two tests of mirrorwise(Tm) and alternate(Ta) forearm diadochokinetic (pronation-supination) movements were performed. The alternate movement represents the most complicated form of interhemispheric control and reciprocal inhibition. The time difference between the two movements (Ta-Tm) is considered to give an indication of the efficiency of transfer of motor information between the hemispheres (particularly the posterior corpus callosum). There was a significant and linear relation between this time difference and the Kaufman Mental Processing Composite (K-MPC) score (p<0.002, DF 2). We conclude that the corpus callosum has an important role in cognitive development and posterior corpus callosum efficiency is related to cognitive outcome.
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Bride, V., Baudin, J., Lorek, A. et al. 107 MOTOR TESTS OF INTERHEMISPHERIC CONTROL AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN VERY PRETERM INFANTS AT EIGHT YEARS. Pediatr Res 36, 20 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00107
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00107
