Mental rotation in early-onset dystonia: a pilot study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mental rotation of body parts and non-bodily images in children with primary and secondary dystonia in comparison to healthy peers: a pilot study
IRAS ID
180402
Contact name
Wieke / H Eggink
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 29 days
Research summary
Dystonia is a hyperkinetic movement disorder characterised by involuntary movements and/or abnormal posturing, which frequently interferes with voluntary actions. The pathophysiological mechanism is largely unknown, although some studies suggest there are difficulties in the execution as well as the planning of movements. A useful tool to investigate the planning and prediction of movements is using a mental rotation task. Mental rotation is the ability to imagine how an object would look if rotated away from the orientation in which it actually appears. This is highly associated with the ‘body schema’, which comprises our mental body representation. Although a few studies showed impaired mental rotation in adults with dystonia, little is known about impairments in the planning and prediction of movements in children with dystonia.
We therefore aim to investigate whether mental rotation is also impaired in children and adolescents with dystonia in comparison to healthy peers. Using a computer task, mental rotation ability will be assessed in patients aged between 8 and 17 with primary (idiopathic, no brain damage) and secondary (due to brain damage) dystonia. Patients will be recruited from the complex movement disorder service at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital. The results will be compared to performances of matched healthy controls. Secondarily, the impact of dystonia severity, anatomical constraints and pain will be evaluated.
It is hoped that this study will lead to a better understanding of the concept of body schema and mental rotation in children with dystonia and whether it might be secondary to anatomical constraints or a primary endophenotypical characteristic of dystonia. A better understanding of the pathophysiology underlying dystonia will help shape and tailor therapies for dystonia in the future.REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
15/WA/0292
Date of REC Opinion
21 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion