Research ReportFunctional MRI evidence for fine motor praxis dysfunction in children with persistent speech disorders

- Persistent speech disorders (PSD) and motor deficits may have a common neural basis.
- fMRI was used to examine brain networks supporting motor praxis in children with PSD.
- Children with PSD had poorer speech, language, fine motor praxis skills than controls.
- Children with PSD had increased activation in the cerebellum during finger tapping.
- Results suggest aberrations in non-speech motor circuitry in children with PSD.

Children with persistent speech disorders (PSD) often present with overt or subtle motor deficits; the possibility that speech disorders and motor deficits could arise from a shared neurological base is currently unknown. Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to examine the brain networks supporting fine motor praxis in children with PSD and without clinically identified fine motor deficits.MethodsThis case-control study included 12 children with PSD (mean age 7.42 years, four female) and 12 controls (mean age 7.44 years, four female). Children completed behavioral evaluations using standardized motor assessments and parent reported functional measures. During fMRI scanning, participants completed a cued finger tapping task contrasted passive listening. A general linear model approach identified brain regions associated with finger tapping in each group and regions that differed between groups. The relationship between regional fMRI activation and fine motor skill was assessed using a regression analysis.ResultsChildren with PSD had significantly poorer results for rapid speech production and fine motor praxis skills, but did not differ on classroom functional skills. Functional MRI results showed that children with PSD had significantly more activation in the cerebellum during finger tapping. Positive correlations between performance on a fine motor praxis test and activation multiple cortical regions were noted for children with PSD but not for controls.ConclusionsOver-activation in the cerebellum during a motor task may reflect a subtle abnormality in the non-speech motor neural circuitry in children with PSD.