Tracking General Movements

General movements (GMs) are spontaneous movements of the entire body observable from 9 weeks of gestation until at least five months postterm age. The assessment of GMs, the GMA, is based on the visual evaluation of normal vs. abnormal movements and has proven to be a reliable tool to predict neurodevelopmental outcomes. Trained observers show high agreements in rating GMs, but their accuracy declines when the GMA is applied infrequently. Certain changes in the quality of GMs have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the pattern of poor-repertoire GMs (i.e. a monotonous movement pattern) is still of low diagnostic power and warrants detailed study. To date, only little is known about an observers visual and perceptual processes during GMA. Using eye tracking to observe the observer, this project will help to gain new insights into the clinical reasoning processes involved during GMA. With our innovative approach, we aim to: (1) learn more about the not yet fully understood poor-repertoire GM pattern [enhance diagnostics]; (2) further develop GMA training methodologies [enhance clinical training]; (3) implement a globally accessible database for clinical GMA training [sustainability]. Knowledge gained in this project will in addition support the development of computer-based analyses of motor patterns. As the GMA is easy to apply, non-invasive and cost-efficient, it has been recommended for broader application, also in low- and middle-income countries and remote areas, where access to modern imaging techniques is limited. Observing the observer will (a) contribute to improve clinical diagnostics of the GMA by redefining the role of poor-repertoire GMs; (b) advance training of GMA by establishing an innovative training method and a database for clinical GMA training; and (c) set the basis for future endeavours to improve pattern recognition algorithms for automated GMA.