Dance Improves Motor, Cognitive, and Social Skills in Children With Developmental Cerebellar Anomalies

Abstract

In this multiple single-cases study, we used dance to train Sensorimotor Synchronization (SMS), motor and cognitive functions in children with Developmental Cerebellar Anomalies (DCA). DCA are rare dysfunctions of the cerebellum that affect motor and cognitive skills. The cerebellum plays an important role in temporal cognition including SMS which is, critical for motor and cognitive development. Dancing engages the SMS neuronal circuitry, composed of the cerebellum, the basal ganglia and the motor cortices. Thus, we hypothesized that dance has a beneficial effect on SMS skills and associated motor and cognitive functions in children with DCA. Seven children (aged 7-11) with DCA participated in a 2-month dance training protocol (3h/week). A test-retest design protocol with multiple baselines was used to assess children's SMS skills as well as motor, cognitive and social abilities. SMS skills were impaired in DCA before the training. The training led to improvements in SMS (reduced variability in paced tapping), balance and executive functioning (cognitive flexibility), as well as in social skills (social cognition). The beneficial effects of the dance training were visible in all participants. Notably, gains were maintained two months after the intervention. These effects are likely to be sustained by enhanced activity in SMS brain networks due to the dance training protocol.

Musical Performance in Adolescents with ADHD, ADD and Dyslexia—Behavioral and Neurophysiological Aspects

“…Individuals with dyslexia not only have timing difficulties in language and music perception, performance and lack motor control [ 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 ] but also a large variety of auditory deficits, ranging from basic to more complex auditory processing deficits [ 51 , 62 , 65 , 67 , 68 , 69 ]. In addition, they have impairments in higher-order cognitive processing (e.g., executive functions) and cognitive skills (e.g., cognitive flexibility) [ 70 , 71 , 72 ]. Children with developmental disorders have been found to exhibit underlying timing deficits which were not only seen as predictors for the disorders [ 70 , 72 ] but also as triggers [ 67 ].…”

“…In addition, they have impairments in higher-order cognitive processing (e.g., executive functions) and cognitive skills (e.g., cognitive flexibility) [ 70 , 71 , 72 ]. Children with developmental disorders have been found to exhibit underlying timing deficits which were not only seen as predictors for the disorders [ 70 , 72 ] but also as triggers [ 67 ].…”

Musical abilities in children with developmental cerebellar anomalies

“…In addition to the well-known motor (balance and coordination) disorders caused by cerebellar motor syndrome, children with DCA may have a variety of cognitive and socio-emotional deficits affecting non-motor functions ( Schmahmann and Sherman, 1998 ; Steinlin et al, 1999 ; Tavano et al, 2007 ). Among these deficits, timing abilities may be affected in these patients, particularly rhythmic abilities ( Dennis et al, 2004 , 2009 ; Hopyan et al, 2009 ; Bégel et al, 2022a ), but it is not known whether musical abilities are more generally affected, and whether these difficulties affect only musical perception or whether production disorders are also found. However, there is growing evidence that the development of musical skills is important for the development of higher functions ( Flaugnacco et al, 2014 ; Lense et al, 2021 ).…”

Musical groove shapes children's free dancing

“…Proposed interventions often focus on strengthening time perception mechanisms via encouraging musical movements. A recent dance intervention case study supports this view, demonstrating that two months of dance training improved sensorimotor and cognitive functions in children with cerebellar dysfunction (Bégel et al, 2021).…”