Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
05:52
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
13.6K
Striatal dopaminergic dysfunction at rest and during task performance in writer's cramp.
Brian D Berman1, Mark Hallett, Peter Herscovitch
11 Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO USA.
Brain : a Journal of Neurology
|October 24, 2013
Summary
Writer's cramp patients show reduced dopamine release in the striatum during motor tasks, suggesting altered dopamine system function in this focal dystonia. These findings highlight potential differences in basal ganglia circuit involvement.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Dopamine Research
Background:
- Writer's cramp is a focal hand dystonia causing involuntary muscle contractions during writing.
- Abnormal striatal dopamine receptor binding is implicated in dystonia, but dopamine release during tasks is unstudied in writer's cramp.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate endogenous dopamine release during motor tasks in writer's cramp patients.
- Analyze striatal D2/D3 receptor availability at rest and during tasks using PET imaging.
Main Methods:
- Used positron emission tomography (PET) with 11C-raclopride to assess striatal D2/D3 receptor availability.
- Compared 15 writer's cramp patients with 15 healthy controls at rest and during sequential finger tapping and speech production tasks.
Main Results:
- Patients exhibited reduced resting D2/D3 receptor availability in the striatum.
- Writer's cramp patients showed decreased dopamine release in the left striatum during finger tapping.
- Increased dopamine release was observed in the left striatum during sentence production in patients.
Conclusions:
- Writer's cramp patients may have divergent striatal dopamine release responses during motor and non-motor tasks.
- Reduced striatal dopamine release may occur alongside reduced D2/D3 receptor availability in writer's cramp.
- Findings suggest differential involvement of basal ganglia circuits in primary focal dystonias.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Alterations in Muscle Tone lll
37
Rigidity and myotonia are distinct abnormalities of muscle tone that affect resistance and relaxation during movement. Although both involve altered muscle contraction, they arise from different neurological and muscular mechanisms.CharacteristicsRigidity is characterized by uniform resistance to passive movement across the entire range, independent of speed, affecting flexors and extensors equally. It may appear as lead-pipe rigidity (smooth, constant resistance) or cogwheel rigidity...
37
01:12Alterations in Muscle Tone ll
32
Alterations in muscle tone are common manifestations of neurological disorders and reflect dysfunction within different nervous system regions. Spasticity, paratonia, and dystonia represent distinct forms of hypertonia, each with unique mechanisms, clinical features, and diagnostic importance.CharacteristicsSpasticity happens from upper motor neuron lesions and is characterized by velocity-dependent resistance to passive movement. Clinical features include:Exaggerated deep tendon reflexesClonus...
32
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
1.4K
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
1.4K
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview
2.2K
Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is...
2.2K
01:24Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
34
Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
34
01:28Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle
2.3K
The clinical conditions affecting the skeletal muscle tissue are broadly categorized as musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders.
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
2.3K