Breya Gardner
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Haylie Miller
Co-Presenter: Briggs, Kaitlin
Research Mentor School/College/Department: University of Michigan / Kinesiology
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 1 – 10am – 10:50am
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Kaitlin Briggs, Breya Gardner, Nicholas Fears, Haylie Miller
Presenter: 108
Abstract
The goal of the Motor & Visual Development Lab is to improve our understanding of motor and visual development. Our studies are designed to identify more specialized ways to assess neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) and to help people living with NDCs improve their motor and visual abilities. Our work is not only designed to distinguish people with NDCs from typically-developing people, but also to distinguish between different kinds of NDCs including autism, Developmental Coordination Disorder/Dyspraxia (DCD), Cerebral Palsy, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. To analyze movement and vision, our team assesses eye and body movements during standing, stepping, leaning, and reaching. We use standardized clinical tests including the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2) along with posturography to test balance. The focus of our clinical research training and data processing this year has been centered around the MABC-2. The MABC-2 is a standardized assessment commonly used to assess children for DCD, which can co-occur with autism. The MABC-2 can be administered to people ages 2 to 21. The person completes physical tasks that measure balance, aiming & catching, and motor coordination. From the results of the MABC-2, underlying motor problems can be classified and documented, which makes finding appropriate resources easier. Early research shows that people with different NDCs score similarly on the MABC-2 in terms of performance, but other more precise motor assessments (e.g., posturography using a force plate) suggest that motor difficulties are driven by different underlying mechanisms. Ultimately the implication of this research is the possibility of a more efficient and specific way to diagnose NDCs using visual and motor tests. This is valuable as it could allow earlier and more appropriate intervention to those with previously undiagnosed or misdiagnosed NDCs. In already-diagnosed individuals, it can aid in identifying underdeveloped areas in motor and visual skills, allowing for intervention that could lead to improved quality of life.
Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary
