Dystonia in childhood – how insights from paediatric research enrich the network theory of dystonia

Dystonia is now widely accepted as a network disorder, with multiple brain regions and their interconnections playing a potential role in the pathophysiology. This model reconciles what could previously have been viewed as conflicting findings regarding the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological characteristics of the disorder, but there are still significant gaps in scientific understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. One of the greatest unmet challenges is to understand the network model of dystonia in the context of the developing brain. This article outlines how research in childhood dystonia supports and contributes to the network theory, and highlights aspects where data from paediatric studies has revealed novel and unique physiological insights, with important implications for understanding dystonia across the lifespan.