Regulation of Force in Children with Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol

描述(由申请人提供)：产前接触酒精会导致一系列神经行为问题，包括智力功能、语言发展、注意力、学习、记忆和运动技能方面的缺陷。关于运动技能，我们以前评估过胎儿期接触酒精的儿童的平衡、反应时间、预期时间和运动速度控制。运动速度控制研究的结果与脉冲正时的理论模型一致。因此，运动终点的准确性和可变性是中枢神经系统(CNS)水平上的预编程时间和力的产物。已经研究了胎儿期酒精暴露儿童运动时间的调节机制，但没有关于力量调节的信息。考虑到酒精暴露对中枢神经系统的致畸作用，有理由认为力量产生机制将受到负面影响。利用信息加工理论将多个实验概念性地联系起来，本研究的目的是确定产前酒精暴露儿童功能障碍的力量控制机制。一个实验将确定酒精暴露儿童的握力是否过大和延迟，而第二个实验将检查快速产生力量到预定水平的能力。另外两个实验检验了酒精暴露儿童在不同视觉反馈条件下等长(无运动)和等张(有运动)力量产生的变异性。此外，现有的结构神经成像数据将与所有四个实验的力结果测量相关联。拟议工作的相关性是，1)它将提供有关产前接触酒精的儿童的力量调节机制的信息；2)这些信息将作为参考来源，可以与其他力量数据集进行比较；3)这些信息将帮助临床医生设计治疗方法，提高酒精暴露者成功完成日常任务的能力；4)这些信息将帮助科学家和工程师设计机器人和其他用于辅助运动的人工设备；5)评估结构中枢神经系统损伤和力量产生之间的直接联系也将有助于康复计划的设计。 公共卫生相关性：该研究计划的结果将帮助治疗师和临床医生设计康复疗法，旨在改善酒精暴露儿童的运动力功能障碍。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Prenatal exposure to alcohol results in a range of neurobehavioral problems including deficits in intellectual functioning, language development, attention, learning, memory, and motor skills. With regard to motor skills, we have previously assessed balance, reaction time, anticipation time, and movement speed control in children with prenatal exposure to alcohol. Results of the movement speed control study are consistent with a theoretical model of impulse-timing. Accordingly, movement end point accuracy and variability is the product of preprogramming time and force at the central nervous system (CNS) level. The mechanisms regulating motor timing in children with prenatal alcohol exposure have been examined but no information exists concerning the regulation of force. Given the teratogenic effects of alcohol exposure on the CNS, it is reasonable to assume mechanisms of force production will be negatively impacted. Utilizing information processing theory to conceptually link multiple experiments, the purpose of the proposed research is to identify the mechanisms of dysfunctional force control in children with prenatal exposure to alcohol. One experiment will determine if grip force is excessive and delayed in the alcohol-exposed child, while a second experiment examines the ability to rapidly produce force to a predetermined level. Two more experiments examine variability of isometric (without movement) and isotonic (with movement) force production in the alcohol-exposed child under conditions of varying visual feedback. Additionally, existing structural neuroimaging data will be correlated with force outcome measures for all four experiments. The relevance of the proposed work is, 1) it will provide information about the mechanisms of force regulation in children with prenatal-exposure to alcohol; 2) the information will serve as a reference source against which other force data sets can be compared; 3) the information will help clinicians to design therapies that will improve the ability of alcohol-exposed individuals to successfully complete everyday tasks; 4) the information will assist scientists and engineers in designing robots and other artificial devices used to assist movement; 5) assessing the direct link between structural CNS damage and force production will also assist in the design of rehabilitation programs. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The results of the research program will assist therapists and clinicians in designing rehabilitation therapies designed to ameliorate motor force dysfunction in alcohol exposed children.