Biomaterial Database

Block Design Performance in Williams Syndrome: Visuospatial Abilities or Task Approach Skills? 2022

Elisa Back, and Emily K Farran, and Jo Van Herwegen

Elisa Back, Kingston University London.

The block design task (BDT) is a visuospatial measure that individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) perform poorly on. However, it is unclear what underlies their impaired performance. This study investigated whether poorer performance is a result of visuospatial difficulties, executive function (EF) difficulties, atypical looking strategies, or a combination of these. Eleven individuals with WS participated alongside mental age (MA)- and chronological age (CA)-matched control groups. Eye movements were recorded while they took the BDT. Dwell times and visits to areas of interest in WS differed from CA, but not MA, groups. Findings suggest that BDT abilities of individuals with WS are delayed, but not atypical. Delays result from visuospatial and attention-switching difficulties rather than atypical looking strategies.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001288	Attention	Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating.	Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions
D056344	Executive Function	A set of cognitive functions that controls complex, goal-directed thought and behavior. Executive function involves multiple domains, such as CONCEPT FORMATION, goal management, cognitive flexibility, INHIBITION control, and WORKING MEMORY. Impaired executive function is seen in a range of disorders, e.g., SCHIZOPHRENIA; and ADHD.	Executive Control,Executive Controls,Executive Functions,Function, Executive,Functions, Executive
D018980	Williams Syndrome	A disorder caused by hemizygous microdeletion of about 28 genes on chromosome 7q11.23, including the ELASTIN gene. Clinical manifestations include SUPRAVALVULAR AORTIC STENOSIS; MENTAL RETARDATION; elfin facies; impaired visuospatial constructive abilities; and transient HYPERCALCEMIA in infancy. The condition affects both sexes, with onset at birth or in early infancy.	Contiguous Gene Syndrome, Williams,Beuren Syndrome,Chromosome 7q11.23 Deletion Syndrome,Hypercalcemia-Supravalvar Aortic Stenosis,Supravalvar Aortic Stenosis Syndrome,Williams Contiguous Gene Syndrome,Williams-Beuren Syndrome,Aortic Stenoses, Hypercalcemia-Supravalvar,Aortic Stenosis, Hypercalcemia-Supravalvar,Hypercalcemia Supravalvar Aortic Stenosis,Hypercalcemia-Supravalvar Aortic Stenoses,Stenoses, Hypercalcemia-Supravalvar Aortic,Stenosis, Hypercalcemia-Supravalvar Aortic,Syndrome, Beuren,Syndrome, Williams,Syndrome, Williams-Beuren,Williams Beuren Syndrome
D065854	Spatial Navigation	Process by which organisms use various cues to develop a route to a destination and their ability to travel such a planned route.	Spatial Ability,Spatial Visualization,Abilities, Spatial,Ability, Spatial,Navigation, Spatial,Navigations, Spatial,Spatial Abilities,Spatial Navigations,Spatial Visualizations,Visualization, Spatial,Visualizations, Spatial