Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

6-9-2016

Abstract

Exposure to alcohol in utero produces a range of morphological and functional outcomes called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Children with FASD exhibit a broad range of cognitive disabilities. We utilized an isochronous, visuomotor, finger tapping task to probe differences in brain dynamics in adolescents, 23 diagnosed with FASD and 25 control (12-19 years of age). Data were recorded with a 306-channel magnetoencephalographic (MEG) array. A finger tapping task of 100 trains of 6 — 8 visually presented cues were presented for 350 milliseconds with interstimulus intervals of 750 milliseconds. The FASD group showed greater reaction times and reaction time variability relative to controls. Patterns of activation were extracted from the sub regions of the frontal parietal network in response locked data. Amplitude, peak onset, and peak latency differences were observed. Correlations detected between peak onsets and latencies with behavioral data reveal details about the processes occurring during the task.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Hamilton, Derek

Second Committee Member

Kodituwakku, Piyadasa

Sponsors

CIFASD

Language

English

Keywords

MEG, FASD, finger tapping, frontal parietal network

Document Type

Thesis

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