Early Motor Development and Visual-Motor Outcomes as Indicators of Future Spatial Navigation Skills in Children Born Preterm

Abstract

Introduction. Preterm infants are born with an immature and more vulnerable brain. This and early neonatal experiences may lead to impairments in neurodevelopment, and/or deviations from the normative trajectories, even without major brain injuries. Some of these differences have been related to academic and coordination constraints during childhood and beyond, but little is known about their specific impact on functional locomotion or its early identification. Aims and methods. This International Doctoral Thesis was carried out in three phases with the following aims: to systematically review the scientific literature available on spatial navigation during locomotion in early childhood (study 1); to develop and test an adapted version of the Walking Corsi Test, as the most appropriate tool identified for measuring spatial memory in toddlers (study 2); and to analyse in depth the relationship between the motor development and fine motor development of toddlers born preterm during the first years of life, together with their spatial navigation skills at two years old (study 3). Results. The main results showed that children born preterm have spatial navigation difficulties that can be evidenced at two years old. These are related to attention and depend on a motivational component. Very importantly, spatial navigation is related to motor development, specifically at six months, and early fine motor performance at eighteen months, the latter being related to children’s attention levels. Conclusions. Collectively, the findings shed light on the importance of considering motor development and early fine motor performance as indicators preterm infants’ spatial navigation in the future. The use of these items in early evaluations may have an influence on the follow-up management of children born preterm and targeted interventions