Related Experiment Videos
Nigrostriatal dopamine system and motor lateralization.
R de la Fuente-Fernández1, A Kishore, D B Calne
1Neurodegenerative Disorders Centre, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, Purdy Pavilion, 2221 Wesbrook Mall, BC, V6T 2B5, Vancouver, Canada.
Behavioural Brain Research
|June 23, 2000
Summary
The nigrostriatal dopamine system influences hand preference and bimanual movement skills. Dopamine uptake in the putamen and caudate correlates with motor lateralization and performance in right-handed individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- The basis of human right-hand preference is not fully understood.
- Asymmetries in the nigrostriatal dopamine system are hypothesized to relate to motor lateralization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the nigrostriatal dopamine system in motor lateralization and bimanual movements.
- To explore the relationship between dopamine uptake asymmetries and hand preference.
Main Methods:
- Utilized [18F]fluorodopa positron emission tomography (PET) to assess dopamine system asymmetries in vivo.
- Correlated dopamine uptake (K(i)) in the putamen and caudate with hand preference and bimanual movement performance.
Main Results:
- Left putamen dominance (higher [18F]fluorodopa uptake) correlated with stronger right-hand preference.
- Right caudate dominance correlated with better performance in simultaneous bimanual movements in right-handed subjects.
- Parkinson's patients with right caudate dominance showed superior bimanual movement performance.
Conclusions:
- The nigrostriatal dopaminergic system plays a role in motor lateralization.
- A functional model for bimanual movements is proposed, involving supplementary motor area (SMA) activation and inhibition.
- Left putamen activation and right caudate inhibition may underlie simultaneous bilateral hand movement skill in right-handers.