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Disturbances of rhythm formation in patients with hemispheric lesion
Insights
Rhythm disturbances, known as hastening phenomenon (HP), were studied in patients with hemispheric lesions. These motor control issues were linked to striatal deficits, similar to Parkinson's disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) can cause hemispheric lesions affecting motor control.
- The finger-tapping test is used to assess rhythm formation and motor speed.
- The hastening phenomenon (HP) is a specific type of rhythm disturbance observed in motor disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of the hastening phenomenon (HP) in patients with hemispheric lesions due to CVD.
- To compare HP in hemiplegic patients with that observed in Parkinson's disease.
- To determine the neuroanatomical correlates of HP in hemiplegia.
Main Methods:
- 191 patients with hemispheric lesions (primarily CVD) were evaluated using the finger-tapping test.
- HP was assessed in both affected and unaffected hands.
- CT scans were performed on 86 patients to identify lesion locations.
Main Results:
- HP was present in 56% of right-hemiplegic and 49% of left-hemiplegic patients.
- HP in the intact hand strongly correlated with HP in the affected hand.
- HP was specifically associated with unilateral striatal lesions.
Conclusions:
- Disturbances in rhythm formation (HP) in hemiplegia are linked to striatal dysfunction.
- These findings suggest that striatal deficits underlie rhythm disturbances in hemiplegia, Parkinson's disease, and other related neurological conditions.
Abstract:
A total of 191 patients with hemispheric lesion mainly due to CVD were examined by the finger-tapping test, and their disturbances of rhythm formation, 'hastening phenomenon' (HP), were compared with those of Parkinson's disease. HP was observed in 56% of the right and 49% of the left hemiplegic patients. HP in the intact hand of the patient was highly correlated with that of the affected hand. CT scans were examined in 86 of 191 patients, and HP was specifically correlated with unilateral striatal lesions. Thus, the disturbances of rhythm formation in hemiplegia, together with those in Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, SND and OPCA, were attributed either to organic or functional deficits in the striatum.