Characteristics of intellectual development in children diagnosed with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita

Frontiers in Psychology. 2026. Vol. 17. Article 1704823.

Koriakina M., Urentcova A., Burdukova Y., Agranovich O., Evgeny Blagovechtchenski

This study investigates how congenital motor disorders affect cognition by analyzing intelligence in children with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), a condition featuring joint contractures without CNS involvement. Unlike other motor disorders, AMC offers a unique model to study movement restriction’s isolated cognitive effects. The study included 32 children diagnosed with AMC and a control group of 33 healthy children. To assess cognitive development, we administered the Culture-Free Intelligence Test (CFIT; GFT 2) to measure fluid intelligence, along with the Block Design, Similarities, and Vocabulary subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) to evaluate visual–spatial, abstract-logical, and verbal intelligence, respectively. Comparative assessments of verbal and non-verbal intelligence in 6–15-year-olds revealed lower general and verbal-logical scores in AMC children, with gaps diminishing by adolescence. Non-verbal disparities emerged later, suggesting compensatory reorganization. Key finding: hand motor impairment—not overall severity—best predicted cognitive delays, emphasizing object manipulation’s role in early development. Results advocate for dual motor-cognitive interventions and refined diagnostic frameworks to distinguish AMC’s neuropsychological profile from other locomotor disorders.

Keywords: child development, cognitive skills, motor skills, Intelligence, Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, motor disorders

Publication based on the results of: Mental health research: behavioral and neurophysiological foundations (2025)