Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Parkinsonian action tremor: interference with object manipulation and lacking levodopa response.

J Raethjen1, S Pohle, R B Govindan

  • 1Department of Neurology, University of Kiel, Schittenhelmstrasse 10, 24105 Kiel, Germany.

Experimental Neurology
|May 19, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Parkinsonian action tremor, distinct from resting tremor, affects manual dexterity. This tremor, observed during complex movements, is not significantly improved by levodopa medication and worsens with severe akinesia in Parkinson's disease patients.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The developing relationship between circadian rhythm and heart rate variability in premature infants.

Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·2026
Same author

Quantitative measures of autonomic cardiorespiratory maturation in preterm infants are associated with brain volumes at term age.

Early human development·2026
Same author

Identifying heart rate characteristics of sleep states of preterm infants using video analysis.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Identifying Heart Rate Characteristics of Sleep States of Preterm Infants Using Video Analysis.

Research square·2025
Same author

Heart rate variability is associated with self-regulation and stress neurobehavior in preterm infants.

Early human development·2025
Same author

Directional flow of brain connections and neurodevelopmental outcomes in healthy full-term newborns.

Neuroscience letters·2025

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Movement Disorders
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Parkinsonian action tremor is hypothesized to differ from resting tremor and impact fine motor skills in Parkinson's disease.
  • Understanding the characteristics of action tremor is crucial for managing Parkinson's disease symptoms and improving patient quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distinct characteristics of Parkinsonian action tremor during pinch grip tasks.
  • To compare action tremor in Parkinson's disease patients with healthy controls.
  • To assess the effect of levodopa medication on action tremor.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed pinch grip coordination in 20 Parkinson's disease patients and 18 healthy controls.
  • Used force sensors to record finger forces during object grasping, lifting, and holding.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Performed spectral analysis of force traces and measured movement transition times.

    • Main Results:

    • Parkinsonian tremor (3.5-6.5 Hz) was present in 65% of patients, reduced by levodopa.
    • A distinct action tremor (6-15 Hz) was found in 30% of patients (50% with added weight), unaffected by levodopa.
    • This action tremor correlated with movement difficulties in severely akinetic patients.

    Conclusions:

    • Parkinsonian action tremor during voluntary movements is distinct from resting tremor.
    • Action tremor shows limited response to levodopa and significantly impairs dexterity in patients with severe akinesia.