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Cognitive load results in motor overflow in essential tremor
S Lee Hong1, Robert W Isenhower, Jorge V José
1a Department of Biomedical Sciences , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA.
Neurocase
|May 25, 2013
Summary
Cognitive load, like mental rotation, worsens essential tremor (ET) symptoms, increasing tremor severity and freezing. This suggests shared neural resources between cognitive and motor functions in ET patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological condition characterized by involuntary shaking.
- The relationship between cognitive function and motor control in ET is not fully understood.
Observation:
- An 84-year-old woman with ET underwent testing involving reaching movements with cognitive load.
- Mental rotation tasks were used to introduce cognitive load during reaching behavior.
Findings:
- Cognitive load significantly increased tremor severity and variability in the non-moving hand.
- Movement patterns exhibited "freezing" under cognitive load, indicating motor control disruption.
Implications:
- Findings suggest significant cognitive-motor overlaps in essential tremor.
- Deficits may arise from a shared pool of neural resources, impacting motor control.
- This highlights potential therapeutic targets for managing ET symptoms.
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