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Evaluating dopaminergic system contributions to cued pattern switching during bimanual coordination.
Matt J N Brown1, Quincy J Almeida
1Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre (MDRC), Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Ave. West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada.
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|July 26, 2011
Summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) impairs switching between movements. Dopamine replacement helps with slowness but does not fix coordination issues, suggesting secondary impairments in PD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Movement Disorders
- Dopaminergic System Research
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by motor deficits, including slow movement and freezing.
- The role of the dopaminergic system in limb coordination and the impact of sensory feedback in PD remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the dopaminergic system influences interlimb coordination during movement switching in Parkinson's disease.
- To determine if sensory feedback availability affects coordination in PD patients undergoing dopamine replacement therapy.
Main Methods:
- PD and healthy participants performed a rhythmic coordination task involving voluntary switching between in-phase and anti-phase movements.
- Tasks were performed with and without visual feedback, both before ('off') and after ('on') dopamine replacement in PD patients.
Main Results:
- PD patients 'off' dopamine showed significantly slower movement switching and more delayed responses compared to controls.
- Coordination accuracy and stability were disrupted in PD patients 'off' dopamine.
- Dopamine replacement improved switching speed and reduced response delays but did not enhance coordination.
Conclusions:
- Dopamine replacement therapy can ameliorate motor slowness associated with movement switching in Parkinson's disease.
- Coordination deficits in PD may stem from non-dopaminergic impairments, potentially attention-related, which are not addressed by dopamine therapy.
