Diagnosis and Methods for Correcting the Development of Children with Functional Deficiency Syndrome of the Basal Ganglia of the Brain

Abstract

One of the most common syndromes in neuropsychological practice in children is considered – the syndrome of functional deficiency of the basal ganglia of the brain. It includes disorders of various levels of motor programming, emotional, cognitive and behavioral spheres. Starting to form early enough, subcortical structures create the necessary base for the transformation of natural mental functions into higher ones. Lesions of the basal ganglia of the brain, even in the process of their formation, create conditions for partial or complete maladaptation of the child in society, and the manifestation of difficulties in the learning process. The diagnosis includes a set of measures, one of which is neuropsychological diagnosis and selection of adequate correction methods. The method of substitutive ontogenesis proposed by A. V. Semenovich is widely used in Russian practice. Its framework fits well with H. Blomberg’s rhythmic stimulation methods and S. Blythe’s neurophysiological integration of neonatal reflexes, which are used abroad and differ significantly in instrumental approaches from the Russian school. The article devotes special attention to hippotherapy, which allows for intervention at all levels of the psyche, creating an optimal foundation for the development of higher mental functions. Research into the potential for hippotherapy to effectively influence the subcortical structures of the brain in children, particularly the basal ganglia, expands the capabilities of pediatric neuropsychology, creating a foundation for the development and correction of higher mental functions in children.