International Congress on Early Sensorimotor Development and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

July 01, 2025 - July 02, 2025
Conference

Faculty of Medicine - Amphitheatre C
10 boulevard Tonnelé
37000 Tours - FR
France

Presentation

Transformative advances in research methodologies, rigor, and technology have profoundly impacted our understanding of how sensorimotor features impact neurodevelopment. The complexity of how neurodevelopmental disorders develop, emerge, are identified, and respond to interventions in the earliest months or even days of life is of utmost interest. Research advances include:

  • Early screening and diagnosis, genetic testing, predictive tools, intensive therapies, and a better understanding of sensory processing and parent-child interactions have deeply advanced screening, diagnosis, and treatment especially in Autism and Cerebral Palsy
  • Technical advances in digital health, acoustic analysis, smartphone applications, machine learning, markerless motion capture, and wearables offer the promise of automation and remote monitoring and improved health care that is independent of geography
  • Open science, research consortia, resource sharing, and large-scale video repositories have revolutionized the conduct of developmental science with methods that are primed for neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Genuine engagement with patients, parents, and community partners and inclusion of patient-reported outcome measures has made combined expertise complementary, explicit, and tangible
  • Rapid advancement in pediatric neuroimaging across modalities has supported the understanding of early brain development and behavioral synchrony

The potential for ultra-early detection, recovery, and rehabilitative treatments in Neurodevelopmental Disorders with infants and families has never been greater. The International Congress on Early Sensorimotor Development and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities invites experts, clinicians, and researchers from all over the world to explore the forefront of early identification, intervention strategies, and impacts on life course and culture. This event facilitates a dynamic exchange of ideas, blending foundational developmental research, neuroscience, clinical expertise, cutting-edge technologies, and innovative research methodologies.

This international meeting will facilitate exchanges among leading and emerging researchers, providing an opportunity to share knowledge and expertise in sensorimotor function. Experts in early childhood development, including those from diverse backgrounds such as psychiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, language development, voice production, neonatology, and medicine will highlight innovative approaches to early detection and treatment.

Held at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tours in collaboration with iBrain, INSERM, and the EXAC-T Center for Autism, this conference offers an academic setting that fosters intellectual exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration. Set in the historic city of Tours in the Loire Valley, rich in cultural heritage and surrounded by castles, gardens, and university life, this venue provides an inspiring backdrop for forward-thinking discussions on the future of ultra-early sensorimotor development and its role in neurodevelopmental health.

 

CONVENORS

 

Confirmed speakers

Click on the name to display the abstract

  • Maria Coello-Villalón, University of Castilla-La Mancha - SP
    Maria Coello-Villalón

    University of Castilla-La Mancha

    Address:  Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, Av. Carlos III, s/n, Toledo , 45004 - Spain

     Email: maria.coello@uclm.es

    María Coello Villalón is a physiotherapist and predoctoral researcher at the University of Castilla-La Mancha. She hold a Master's degree in Neurological Physiotherapy and is a member of the ImproveLab research group. Her work focuses on pediatric neurorehabilitation, combining assistive technologies, artificial intelligence, and intensive therapies. She has experience in early detection of cerebral palsy and functional assessment in high-risk infants. María is a researcher in the European AINCP project and collaborates with the HemichildResearch-Unit. Her recent work explores early powered mobility in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I.

    Early Powered Mobility in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I: Family Perspectives Through Photo-Voice Research

    Spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1) is a severe neuromuscular disorder causing progressive muscle weakness and significant motor limitations in young children. Early powered mobility interventions may enhance autonomy, participation, and quality of life. This study evaluates the impact of a family-centered early powered mobility program using a randomized controlled trial with 24 children (10 months to 5 years old) with SMA1. The intervention includes a 12-week structured training followed by free device use in natural environments. Primary outcomes assess participation, functional ability, and quality of life. Complementarily, a qualitative photovoice study explored families’ experiences over four weeks, revealing themes of enhanced emotional and social engagement, environmental accessibility barriers, and the importance of professional-family collaboration. Findings highlight that powered mobility improves independence and participation but also underline ongoing environmental challenges. Participatory methodologies like photovoice empower families to voice real-life needs, guiding future inclusive mobility interventions.

  • Stacey Dusing, University of Southern California - USA
    Stacey Dusing

    University of Southern California

    Address:  1540 E Alcazar, Los Angeles CA - USA

     Email: Stacey.dusing@pt.usc.edu

    Dr. Stacey Dusing is the Sykes Family Chair of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Health and Development, a Professor and the Director of Pediatric Research in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California, where she also leads the Motor Development Laboratory. She is a board-certified pediatric physical therapy specialist, has led multiple federally funded multi-site clinical trials of interventions for infants born preterm and with cerebral palsy. She has over 25 years of clinical, research, teaching and mentoring experience.  She has won multiple research and mentoring awards from professional associations, including the John HP Maley Lectureship and Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA and the AACPDM Mentoring Award.  

    Key Ingredients for Early Sensory Motor Interventions for Infants born preterm or with early brain injury?

    Infants born full term are well matched to the environment they are born into.  In contrast, infants born very preterm are easily overwhelmed by the sensory-motor demands of the gravity-filled, loud, and bright world into which they arrived.   While interventions to improve the environment in the NICU have been common for decades, training caregivers to adjust their interactions and match each engagement to the infants’ current abilities is not a part of routine care.  Similarly, recognizing the small changes needed to provide each infant with the Just-Right Challenge, requires attention to specific details and modulation of one's own behaviour.  Providing parents with the training using guided participation to align the sensory motor stimulus provided with the infant's tolerance may allow for improved dyadic interactions that, in turn, support developmental outcomes.  In this talk, we will focus on the key ingredients for determining the timing, dose, and content of interventions that can be provided during the transition from the NICU to home.   Reflections from several small clinical trials and parent qualitative data will be used to prompt conversation about what is best practice in sensory motor intervention in the first moths following preterm birth.  

  • Monica Hegde , Multimodal Brain Function Analysis Research Group (GRAMFC) / INSERM, University of Picardie - FR
    Monica Hegde

    Multimodal Brain Function Analysis Research Group (GRAMFC) / INSERM, University of Picardie

    Address:  CURS, CHU Sud, 30 Av. de la Croix Jourdain, 80000 Amiens - France

     Email: monica.hegde@u-picardie.fr

    Monica Hegde is a postdoctoral researcher at the Groupe de Recherches sur l’Analyse Multimodale de la Fonction Cérébrale (GRAMFC, Inserm UMR1105), Université de Picardie. Her research focuses on how the brain processes sounds in infancy. She earned her PhD under Laurianne Cabrera and Thierry Nazzi, studying how infants process speech sounds and develop phonological categories. In her postdoc with Sahar Moghimi, she investigates early sensorimotor processing, exploring the interaction between auditory and tactile rhythms in newborns using EEG and eye-tracking. Her work aims to uncover how multisensory rhythm processing contributes to early development. 

     Exploring the impact of tactile stimulation on rhythm perception in newborns 

    Rhythm perception is fundamental for early development. In adults, sensorimotor mechanisms aid rhythm perception and beat-based predictions. Caregivers naturally pat infants to music, but it remains unclear whether newborns integrate sensorimotor input into rhythm perception. This study investigates whether tactile stimulation modulates neural tracking of auditory rhythms in lullabies.

    We will recruit 40 full-term newborns (38-40 weeks GA) and measure EEG in two conditions:
    (1) Auditory-tactile, where lullabies at 2 Hz (120 BPM) are paired with patting at 1 Hz, alternating 4 beats of auditory-tactile (AT) stimulation with 4 beats of auditory-only (A);
    and (2) Auditory-only, where infants hear the lullabies without tactile input.

    Our initial analyses will compare neural responses to auditory and tactile stimuli separately. Our primary analyses will test whether alternating AT and A stimulation enhances neural tracking of lullaby rhythms and synchronization to the beat. We will assess coherence between EEG signals and the envelope and spectral flux of the lullabies.

    This study will clarify how neonates process multimodal rhythms, highlighting patting as a natural modulator of rhythm perception and early auditory-sensorimotor integration.

  • Dana McCarty, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - USA
    Dana McCarty

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & UNC Children’s Hospital

    Address:  3024 Bondurant Hall, CB# 7135 , Chapel Hill, NC 27599 - USA

     Email: dana_mccarty@med.unc.edu

    Dana McCarty is a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist in physical therapy (PT). She received clinical specialty training at the Duke University Pediatric PT Residency Program and has over 15 years of experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Dana is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) where she teaches in the PT program and conducts research in the NICU. Her research has been funded by the NIH and the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research and examines PT interventions designed to support infant and parent outcomes. Dana holds a PhD in Maternal and Child Health from UNC-CH. Dana directs the UNC Pediatric PT Residency Program and is a faculty member for the UNC Neonatal PT Fellowship program. 

    Feasibility of Using a Force Plate to Measure Very Preterm Infant Posture and Movement at Term Equivalent Age

    Very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) are at elevated risk for motor impairment. Force plate-derived center of pressure (COP) measures may detect early posture and movement differences, potentially improving access to early therapies. Objectives: 1) Assess feasibility of force plate-derived COP data collection in a Level IV NICU at term age; 2) Describe posture and movement characteristics in this population. Twenty-one infants were placed supine on a Bertec force plate wearing a diaper and one clothing layer. COP metrics (Total Distance X/Y, Displacement X/Y, Path Length, Ellipse Area) were recorded over 3 minutes. Birth gestational age (BGA), postmenstrual age (PMA), Intraventricular Hemorrhage, Bronchopulmonary Pulmonary Dysplasia, and cranial flattening were documented. Feasibility benchmarks were met: 81% tolerated 3 minutes in states 3–5 (Goal ≥70%); 86% assessments followed protocol (Goal ≥80%); 70% parental consent (Goal ≥70%). Infants moved more in the Y than X direction. BPD was associated with reduced movement (Total Distance X/Y, Path Length, Y Displacement). Cranial flattening correlated with slightly increased movement metrics. Each additional BGA week increased Path Length by 12 m (p=0.04); each PMA week (37–40) decreased it by 22 m (p=0.05). Force plate use was feasible in very preterm infants at term age. COP measures may differentiate posture and movement by age and comorbidity. Larger studies are needed to explore these associations.

  • Nadège Roche-Labarbe, University of Caen Normandy - FR
    Nadège Roche-Labarbe

    Mobility: Aging, Pathology, Health (COMETE) / INSERM, University of Caen Normandy

    Address:  PFRS, 2 rue des Rochambelles, F-14032 CAEN cedex 5 - France

     Email: nadege.roche@unicaen.fr

    Nadège Roche-Labarbe completed her Doctoral work in Amiens, France, studying the neurovascular response using simultaneous fNIRS and EEG in preterm neonates, in epileptic children, and in animal models. Her postdoctoral training at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (Boston MA, USA) focused on optical imaging for clinical and cognitive applications in premature and hospitalized neonates. As junior faculty at the University of Caen, France, she started focusing on finding neonatal endophenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders. She is now an Associate Professor at the University of Caen, and her team investigates the development of predictive coding in preterm neonates and how this relates to their neurodevelopmental outcome, using longitudinal protocols and multimodal neuroimaging.

    Somatosensory prediction in newborns: effect of prematurity and relationship with neurodevelopment at age 2

    Sensory prediction (SP)—the brain’s capacity to anticipate incoming stimuli based on prior experience—is a fundamental component of cognitive and motor development, as well as postural adaptation. It enables experience-based and context-dependent modulation of sensory processing. Alterations in SP have been hypothesized to contribute to motor and cognitive symptoms observed in neurodevelopmental disorders (ND), though empirical evidence remains limited. In this study, we assessed SP in 84 preterm infants born between 24 and 34 weeks of gestational age (GA), using EEG event-related potentials during a tactile oddball-omission paradigm conducted at 35 weeks equivalent GA. Our findings demonstrate that SP is already functional in preterm neonates, particularly those with longer exposure to extrauterine sensory environments, suggesting that the preterm brain actively regulates sensory input, potentially as an adaptive response to the stressors of neonatal intensive care. However, such adaptations may have downstream consequences for neurodevelopment. We are currently conducting follow-up assessments at 2 years of age, including psychomotor and sleep quality evaluations, to investigate associations between neonatal SP and later neurodevelopmental outcomes. Preliminary findings indicate a potential link between early SP measures and sleep patterns, highlighting the promise of SP as an early biomarker for identifying infants at risk and informing timely intervention strategies.

  • Kimberley Scott, Creighton University - USA
    Kimberley Scott

    Creighton University

    Address:  Criss III, Room 119A, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska -  USA

     Email: kimscott1@creighton.edu

    Kimberley Scott is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. She completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Duke University (2007). She is a pediatric residency graduate (The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 2011) and a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist (2013). She completed her PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University in 2022. Her clinical research focuses on intervention fidelity, the interaction between family systems and pediatric rehabilitation, and precision neurorehabilitation for people with movement disorders, including cerebral palsy, across the lifespan.

    Exploring Accurate, Feasible Measures of Upper Limb Motor Activity in Infants to Identify Intervention Dose-Response Relationships

    Precision rehabilitation means providing the right intervention at the right dose to the right person at the right time. The “right dose” means optimal dosing based on established dose-response relationships. In infants diagnosed early with cerebral palsy (CP), promising interventions to improve upper extremity function, such as constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and bimanual therapy (BIM), are rooted in motor learning principles – repeated practice of task-specific skills shaped by feedback. Little is known about the optimal dosing of these two treatments in infancy in part because changes in diagnostic trends are relatively recent and individual intervention outcomes are highly variable. Differences in treatment outcomes may occur when performance (or “enactment”) of intervention dosing parameters (frequency, intensity, time, and type) is variable. Commonly used enactment measures (e.g., self-report diaries) are inaccurate and, at best, capture frequency and time of intervention performance. Objective, direct measures of enactment across all dosing parameters are essential to accurately evaluate intervention outcomes. The focus of this session will be methodologies for directly measuring enactment. Audience engagement will focus on benefits and challenges of various methods and idea-sharing for future directions to advance precision neurorehabilitation for infants with movement disorders.

  • Angelina Vernetti, Yale Child Study Center - USA
    Angelina Vernetti

    Yale Child Study Center

    Address:  300 George St, New Haven 06511, CT - USA

     Email: angelina.vernetti@yale.edu

    Angelina Vernetti holds a B.Sc. in Cell Biology from the University of Angers, an M.Sc. in Neurosciences from the University of Toulouse, and a Ph.D. in Developmental Neuropsychology from Birkbeck, University of London. She is a Research Scientist in the Social and Affective Neuroscience of Autism program at Yale School of Medicine’s Child Study Center, led by Prof. Chawarska. Her work focuses on understanding the early social and cognitive challenges faced by young children with autism, using screen based and live eye-tracking, physiological recording, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy to study social attention, reinforcement learning, emotional regulation, and language processing—ultimately aiming to support more effective interventions.

    Real-World Social Cues and Altered Temporal Brain Dynamics: fNIRS Assessment of Speech–Gaze Integration in Toddlers with Autism

    Background. In autism, diminished attention to child-directed speech and direct gaze suggest altered processing of ostensive cues for social engagement. Yet few studies have examined their combined effects on activation of brain areas involved in processing multimodal social stimuli in early development. Methods. Toddlers with autism (n=19) and typically developing (TD) peers (n=34) underwent fNIRS (NIRx-NIRSport2) while viewing videos of a female actor delivering child-directed speech alone (DG-SP+), direct gaze only (DG+SP-), both speech and gaze (DG+SP+), or neither cue (DG-SP-). Cortical hemodynamics in bilateral STG were analyzed alongside autism severity scores and language measures. Results. Across all conditions, toddlers with autism showed atypical STG lateralization with heightened right STG activation, particularly when speech was present compared to their TD peers. The largest hemispheric difference emerged when speech and gaze were combined, mirroring the complexity of real-world social interactions. In the combined sample, left STG activation correlated positively with receptive language only in DG+SP+, while higher right STG activation was linked to lower language scores and increased autism symptoms across conditions. Conclusion. These findings underscore the need to study combinations of dynamic social cues—as they occur in everyday interactions—using methodologies like fNIRS to advance our understanding of early neurodevelopmental differences in autism.

  • Jennifer Bosserman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - USA
    Jennifer Bosserman

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill &  Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital

    Address:  101 Manning Dr, Chapel Hill, NC - USA

     Email: Jennifer.bosserman@unch.unc.edu

    Jennifer Bosserman is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). She received clinical specialty training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and George Washington University PT Residency Program. Jennifer is currently completing her neonatal PT fellowship in the University of North Carolina’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Jennifer began her research during her DPT program, with the help of her mentor Dana McCarty, and has continued working on these projects throughout her residency and fellowship programs. She has one published systematic review examining examines different tools to assess premature infants’ movement patterns and is currently working on a feasibility project. The current scope of her research is to determine if a force plate can predict future motor impairment in the preterm infant. 

    Feasibility of Using a Force Plate to Measure Very Preterm Infant Posture and Movement at Term Equivalent Age

    Very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) are at elevated risk for motor impairment. Force plate-derived center of pressure (COP) measures may detect early posture and movement differences, potentially improving access to early therapies. Objectives: 1) Assess feasibility of force plate-derived COP data collection in a Level IV NICU at term age; 2) Describe posture and movement characteristics in this population. Twenty-one infants were placed supine on a Bertec force plate wearing a diaper and one clothing layer. COP metrics (Total Distance X/Y, Displacement X/Y, Path Length, Ellipse Area) were recorded over 3 minutes. Birth gestational age (BGA), postmenstrual age (PMA), Intraventricular Hemorrhage, Bronchopulmonary Pulmonary Dysplasia, and cranial flattening were documented. Feasibility benchmarks were met: 81% tolerated 3 minutes in states 3–5 (Goal ≥70%); 86% assessments followed protocol (Goal ≥80%); 70% parental consent (Goal ≥70%). Infants moved more in the Y than X direction. BPD was associated with reduced movement (Total Distance X/Y, Path Length, Y Displacement). Cranial flattening correlated with slightly increased movement metrics. Each additional BGA week increased Path Length by 12 m (p=0.04); each PMA week (37–40) decreased it by 22 m (p=0.05). Force plate use was feasible in very preterm infants at term age. COP measures may differentiate posture and movement by age and comorbidity. Larger studies are needed to explore these associations.

Programme

Tuesday 1st July 2025

  • 12:30   Welcome lunch & registration
  • 13:45   Official opening: Sophie Gabillet (Le Studium), Jill Heathcock (USA)
  • 14:00   Jill Heathcock - Measuring motor development in disability
  • 14:45  Dana McCarty  & Jennifer Bosserman- Feasibility of Using a Force Plate to Measure Very Preterm Infant Posture and Movement at Term Equivalent Age
  • 15:15   María Coello Vilallón - Early Powered Mobility in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I: Family Perspectives Through Photo-Voice Research
  • 16:15   Coffee break 
  • 16:45   Kimberley Scott - Exploring Accurate, Feasible Measures of Upper Limb Motor Activity in Infants to Identify Intervention Dose-Response Relationships
  • 18:30   Guided walking visit of the city center - Departure in front of the Grand Hotel, near the train station
  • 19h45 Congress Dinner

Wednesday 2nd July 2025

  • 09:00    Petra Hüppi -  Sound : Exploring Music's Impact on Early Brain Development
  • 10:00    Stacey Dusing - Key Ingredients for Early Sensory Motor Interventions for Infants born preterm or with early brain injury?
  • 11:00    Coffee break
  • 11:30   Angelina Vernetti - Real-World Social Cues and Altered Temporal Brain Dynamics: fNIRS Assessment of Speech–Gaze Integration in Toddlers with Autism
  • 12:00    Poster pitch
  • 12:30    Lunch 
  • 13:30    Poster viewing
  • 14:00    Nadège Roche-Labarbe - Somatosensory prediction in newborns: effect of prematurity and relationship with neurodevelopment at age 2
  • 15:00    Sahar Moghimi - Early development of auditory rhythm perception
  • 16:00   Short break
  • 16:15    Monica  Hegde - Exploring the impact of tactile stimulation on rhythm perception in newborns
  • 16:45   Marianne Latinus & Claire Wardak - What happens after 2 years of age?
  • 17:45   Discussion and Awards
  • 18:30   Optional social event: Guinguette de Tours (not included)

Location

Faculté de médecine Tours

Faculty of Medicine of Tours

10, Boulevard Tonnellé - 37000 TOURS - FR

Located in the heart of Tours, the Faculty of Medicine is part of the University of Tours and stands as a renowned institution for medical education and research. Established in 1969, it has trained generations of healthcare professionals and researchers, contributing to medical advancements in France and beyond. With modern teaching facilities, cutting-edge research laboratories, and close ties to the university hospital, the Faculty provides an ideal environment for academic excellence. Participants will be welcomed in this dynamic setting, where historical heritage meets medical innovation, and will have the opportunity to explore the rich culture and gastronomy of the Loire Valley.

 

 

General Information

Information
Congress Venue

Faculty of Medicine of Tours, 10 boulevard Tonnellé 37000 Tours, France

Dates
 Dates

Tuesday, 1 July &  Wednesday 2 July 2025

Language
 Language

The official language of the Congress is English

Badge
Welcome pack and Name Badge

Upon arrival you will receive a welcome pack that includes the printed material of the Conference and your name badge will be given to you at the reception . Please wear your name badge at all times during the Conference and to all official Conference events.

Invitation Letters
Invitation Letters

 An official letter of invitation facilitating the obtention of an entry visa can be sent upon request . In order to receive an invitation letter for visa purposes, send an email to maurine.villiers@lestudium-ias.fr. Please note that : 
- we only issue an official letter once the payment of the registration fee has been validated.
- such letters do not represent a commitment on the part of the Organisers to provide any financial assistance.

Certificat
Certificate of attendance

 After the conference, in order to receive a certficate of participation, send an email to maurine.villiers@lestudium-ias.fr

How to get there ?

Train
By train: 

* Tours centre station
 1.5 hour trip from Paris (Montparnasse)

 * Saint Pierre des Corps (4km from Tours town centre)
Bus 5, 20 minutes trip to Tours centre station

> Plan your trip by train: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

Voiture
By car:

GPS: 47.3910171,0.68927
Please note that you can't park in front of the Hôtel de Ville.
Paid car parks nearby : 
Parking Gare, Place du Général Leclerc, 37000 Tours
Parking Tours Nationale, 5 rue Emile Zola, 37000 Tours

Avion
 By plane:
*Arrival at Roissy Charles De Gaulle (CDG) airport
Take RER B in direction to Saint Rémy Les Chevreuse, step out at Denfert Rochereau Stop
Metro 6 in direction to Charles de Gaulle Etoile, step out at Montparnasse Bienvenue Stop 
> Then take a train to Tours (see "by train" section above)
*Arrival at Paris-Orly (ORY) airport: 
Take Metro 14 in direction to Saint-Denis - Pleyel, step out at Kleber Stop.
Take Metro 6 in direction to Kleber, step out at Montparnasse Bienvenue Stop for Montparnasse train station
or
Take Metro 14 in direction to Saint-Denis - Pleyel, step out at Bibliothèque-François Mitterrand  Stop.
Take RER C in direction to Gare de Pontoise, step out at Gare d'Austerlitz Stop for Austerlitz train station
> Then take a train to Tours (see "by train" section above)  

 

Bus
 From Tours train station to the Faculty of medicine:

Take Bus 5 at Place du Général Leclerc in direction to Parc Grandmont
Step out at Arago Stop
Walk 10 minutes in direction to UFR Médecine Tours, 10 Bd Tonnellé"

 

 

Pricing

(Including two lunches, a gala dinner ,a guided visit and the coffee breaks)

150€

Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be made in writing and sent by email to the Registration Department
Up to 30 days prior to conference start – Full refund less €50 handling fee
Less than 30 days prior to conference start – No refund

GMA Course - July 3-5, 2025 

👉 Go to the webpage of the GMA Course

Basic Course – The Prechtl General Movement Assessment 

Tutor: Vittorio Belmonti

vittorio.belmonti@fsm.unipi.it

-in person in Tours France!

-in French

-limited registration (25 participants)

We are proud to offer the Basic General Movement Assessment courses in tandem with the Internatinal Congress on Sensorimotor Development and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Participants can attend the GMA course only (in French) or in combination with the Scientific Congress (in English). 

Research conducted in the last 20 years has shown the qualitative assessment of spontaneous movement in the fetus, newborn, and young infant is an early and reliable indicator for diagnosis and prognosis of neurological disorders. Compelling evidence is now available that qualitative assessment of General Movements —a specific type of spontaneous movement—under the age of five months is the best predictor of cerebral palsy. This course fulfills the standards specified by the Generalized Movement Trust (www.general-movements-trust.info). The course will consist of lessons, demonstration, and discussion of video-recordings. Lectures will alternate with exercises in small groups with videos prepared by the tutors. At the end of the course participants be required to take a final test in order to receive a certificate of reliability in this method of assessment.

👉 Go to the webpage of the GMA Course

Oral presentations & posters

Abstracts should be submitted before Wednesday 21st May 2025.

Please upload your abstract during the registration or send it before the deadline to maurine.villiers@lestudium-ias.fr.

The number of oral presentations is limited, convenors will process a selection and confirm your presentation few days later.

Please note that we do not print the posters, but racks & pins will be provided for up to A0 sizes, portrait format.

Partners of the event