Project Description

Challenge

In young babies, assessment of their motions has been used to predict complex neurological dysfunction later in life. Infant movement has been identified as the 7th cardinal sign of neurological dysfunction. However, this method is limited, partially due to the skills that are required to deliver a clear qualitative assessment of a baby’s motion. A metric of normal movement would give neonatologists and pediatricians yet another measure of infant well being and function.

Project Summary

To address this challenge, Dr. Victoria Galea aimed to develop a quantitative analysis of spontaneous movements in infants in the first 3-4 months of life, with support from McMaster University and Kids Brain Health (KBHN).  By analyzing 3D movement data collected by sensors and transformed using differential geometry, the study sought to establish a mathematical model of the spontaneous movements of young infants.

The researchers recruited forty-six full-term infants up to 16 weeks of age for the study.  Infants were tested twice, once within their first eight weeks and then again within their second eight weeks.  The purpose of these two tests was to capture movement within both “writhing” and “fidgety” phases of spontaneous movement. Utilizing an electromagnetic motion capture system (TrakStar), the team placed six motion sensors on their limbs, head and torso to derive characteristics of different motions and their complexity.

Result

The algorithms allowed for the assessment of spontaneous infant motion. The team utilized their full-term healthy infant database for this development.  The validation of this model is ongoing via assessment of infants admitted into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at McMaster Childrens’Hospital.  Eventually, the prediction of future neurological function will be the subject of prospective studies. Having this rich data source will allow researchers to focus on premature infants who are at high risk for neurodevelopmental disorders such as Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Coordination Disorder and Autism.

Team

Investigators

Principal Invesitgator

Dr. Victoria Galea, McMaster University

Co-Investigators

Dr. Salhab El Helou, McMaster Children’s’ Hospital
Dr. Chirstop Fusch, McMaster University
Ranil Sonnadara R, McMaster University

Collaborators

Dr. James Reilly, McMaster University