2020/04/13 by Åsa Bartonek, Laura Piccardi, Cecilia Guariglia
Medicine · Health Professions · #Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders #Infant Development and Preterm Care #Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/00222895.2020.1748861
Forty children with cerebral palsy (CP) and 120 typical developing children (TD) performed a topographic working memory (WalCT) test requiring to move their body in a walked vista-space and a visuo-spatial test (CBT) requiring just reaching movements. WalCT score was significantly higher in GMFCS II/III than in TD. CBT score was significantly lower in GMFCS I than in III/IV but lower than TD in all CP groups. Similar results in WalCT between GMFCS I and TD and GMFCS II and III/IV respectively indicate that mobility is associated with topographic working memory. Differently in CBT, the absence of bodily movement allows using different cognitive strategies. Children should be provided with opportunities and active participation to enhancing spatial awareness and navigational skills.