MRI scans could improve our understanding of dyspraxia

 DCDpr
15 Jun 2016 20:48:54.533

PA 140/16

A new research team at The University of Nottingham is using MRI scanning to learn more about the role of the cerebellum in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) – the motor skills disorder also known as Dyspraxia.

The Hand Lab team, led by Dr Nicholas Holmes, based in the School of Psychology is looking for volunteers aged between eight and ten years old to participate in the study. So far 60 children have undergone brain scans but the researchers need 30 more and they are looking for volunteers to participate in the study this summer.

Dr Holmes said: “The tests can be done over two 90 minute sessions in the school holidays or evenings. The volunteers will also participate in a newly developed hand-eye coordination task to test reaction times and grasping techniques.”

Click here for full story

Dr Holmes brought The Hand Lab team Nottingham from Reading last year. He said: “Our research looks at how we perceive our hand's location, size, and shape, how this affects our movement and thought, and what role the brain plays in these processes.”

Discovering more about DCD

Containing half the neurons in the brain the cerebellum is known as the ‘little brain’. It receives sensory information and fine-tunes the body’s movements. It is hoped MRI scans of eight to ten year old volunteers will provide enough information to help explore other questions about DCD as well as detect any underlying problems in this part of the brain that might be associated with the condition and eventually lead to new ways of diagnosing and treating the condition.

Dr Holmes said: “Because the cerebellum plays such a fundamental role in our ability to coordinate, we want to discover if there is any link between the cerebellum and DCD. The hope is that if we can pinpoint a problem we might be able to find ways of diagnosing and treating the condition.”

A difficult to diagnose disorder

DCD is a common, but difficult to diagnose disorder, affecting fine and gross motor coordination in children and adults. The research, funded by the Medical Research Council needs the help of children who may be showing signs of dyspraxia or DCD as well as typically developing children.

Up to one in every 20 children may be affected

DCD can result in low self-esteem among children. They struggle to perform as well as their peers in everyday activities such as sport, writing and drawing. It can affect their ability to learn and they may need extra help at school. It has been estimated that as many as one in every 20 children may be affected by the condition to some degree and it appears to be more common in boys than girls.

The research team is working with a local parent support group in Nottingham in hope of getting enough volunteers to take part in the study.

— Ends —

Our academics can now be interviewed for broadcast via our Media Hub, which offers a Globelynx fixed camera and ISDN line facilities at University Park campus. For further information please contact a member of the Communications team on +44 (0)115 951 5798, email mediahub@nottingham.ac.uk or see the Globelynx website for how to register for this service.

For up to the minute media alerts, follow us on Twitter

Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with a “distinct” approach to internationalisation, which rests on those full-scale campuses in China and Malaysia, as well as a large presence in its home city.’ (Times Good University Guide 2016). It is also one of the most popular universities in the UK among graduate employers and was named University of the Year for Graduate Employment in the 2017 The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide. It is ranked in the world’s top 75 by the QS World University Rankings 2015/16, and 8th in the UK for research power according to the Research Excellence Framework 2014. It has been voted the world’s greenest campus for four years running, according to Greenmetrics Ranking of World Universities.

Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…

 

Story credits

More information is available from Dr Nicholas Holmes, School of Psychology, +44(0)115 951 5283, nicholas.holmes@nottingham.ac.uk
Lindsay Brooke

Lindsay Brooke - Media Relations Manager

Email: lindsay.brooke@nottingham.ac.uk Phone: +44 (0)115 951 5751 Location: University Park

Additional resources

No additional resources for this article

Related articles

£23.6 million boost for medical research in Nottingham

Published Date
Thursday 15th September 2016

The future of MRI in Nottingham unveiled

Published Date
Friday 13th January 2017

Media Relations - External Relations

The University of Nottingham
YANG Fujia Building
Jubilee Campus
Wollaton Road
Nottingham, NG8 1BB

telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 5798
email: pressoffice@nottingham.ac.uk