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Enhanced Manual and Oral Motor Reaction Time in Young Adult Female Fragile X Premutation Carriers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2011

Naomi J. Goodrich-Hunsaker ,
Ling M. Wong ,
Yingratana McLennan ,
Flora Tassone ,
Danielle Harvey ,
Susan M. Rivera  and
Tony J. Simon
Naomi J. Goodrich-Hunsaker*
Affiliation:
NeuroTherapeutics Research Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
Ling M. Wong
Affiliation:
Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California Davis, Davis, California M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
Yingratana McLennan
Affiliation:
M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
Flora Tassone
Affiliation:
M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California
Danielle Harvey
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California
Susan M. Rivera
Affiliation:
NeuroTherapeutics Research Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California Department of Psychology, University of California Davis, Davis, California
Tony J. Simon
Affiliation:
M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Naomi J. Goodrich-Hunsaker, M.I.N.D. Institute, 2825 50th Street, Room 1362, Sacramento, CA 95817. E-mail: naomihunsaker@me.com
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Abstract

A previous study reported preliminary results of enhanced processing of simple visual information in the form of faster reaction times, in female fragile X premutation carriers (fXPCs). In this study, we assessed manual and oral motor reaction times in 30 female fXPCs and 20 neurotypical (NT) controls. Participants completed two versions of the reaction time task; one version required a manual motor response and the other version required an oral motor response. Results revealed that the female fXPCs displayed faster reaction times for both manual and oral motor responses relative to NT controls. Molecular measures including CGG repeat length, FMR1 mRNA levels, and age were not associated with performance in either group. Given previously reported age and CGG repeat modulated performance on a magnitude comparison task in this same group of premutation carriers, results from the current study seem to suggest that female fXPCs may have spared basic psychomotor functionality. (JINS, 2011, 17, 746–750)

Keywords

Psychomotor performanceAnxietyCortiospinal tractCorticopontine tractMotor cortexX-linked genetic disease
Type
Brief Communications
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , 21 June 2011 , pp. 746 - 750
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2011

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