Chapter 6 - ASD Motor Systems
Which regions of the brain are responsible for motor function?
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The premotor cortex is located anterior (in front of) the primary motor cortex.
The premotor cortex is responsible for planning and sequencing movements as well as controlling movements guided by external stimuli.
The supplementary motor area (SMA) of the premotor cortex is responsible for planning and coordinating complex movements.
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The motor cortex is located in the frontal lobe (in the precentral gyrus). It is divided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
The primary motor cortex is responsible for initiating and controlling voluntary movements.
The right side of the motor cortex controls the movements of the left side of the body. The left side of the motor cortex controls the movements of the right side of the body.
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The cerebellum is located at the posterior (back) of the brain, behind the brain stem (pictured in blue to the right).
The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating and refining movements.
Damage to the cerebellum can lead to incoordination or ataxia (lack of coordination).
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The basal ganglia is located deep within the brain.
The basal ganglia is responsible for initiating and inhibiting movements as well as regulating muscle tone.
(Neuroscience Online, 2020)
Many Autistic children present with challenges in the motor domain including: balance, gait (walking), and motor coordination (Bhat, 2020).
What is the difference between Fine Motor versus Gross motor?
Fine motor skills are defined as small, precise movements and coordination involving the fingers, hands, and or wrists.
Gross motor skills are defined as large body movements and coordination such as jumping, walking, and running using large muscle groups.
Both motor skills are integral in an individual’s motor functions, thus impacting their ability to engage in self care or their activities of daily living (ADLs) and other meaningful activities or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).
Typically, if an Autistic child finds fine motor skills challenging, they can work closely with a licensed occupational therapist. On the other hand, if an Autistic child finds gross motor skills challenging, they can work closely with a licensed physical therapist.
Learn more about the differences in fine motor versus gross motor skills in the examples provided below:
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Fine motor skills required for self-care activities:
oral care management (e.g., flossing, brushing teeth)
hair care management (e.g., brushing hair, washing hair, styling hair)
dressing (buttons, zippers, fasteners)
tying shoe laces
Fine motor skills required for other meaningful activities:
picking up small items
using a writing utensil (e.g., pencil, pen, crayon)
financial management (e.g., coins, dollar bills)
arts and crafts (e.g., cutting paper, gluing paper)
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Examples of gross motor skills in meaningful activities:
walking daily from place to place
engaging in physical activity (e.g., jumping, spinning, running, skipping)
throwing/kicking a ball
jumping rope
climbing
balancing