Motor cortical oscillations are abnormally suppressed during repetitive movement in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Objective Impaired repetitive movement in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with reduced amplitude, paradoxical hastening and hesitations or arrest at higher movement rates. This study examined the effects of movement rate and medication on movement-related cortical oscillations in persons with PD. Methods Nine participants with PD were studied off and on medication and compared to nine control participants. Participants performed index finger movements cued by tones from 1 to 3 Hz. Movement-related oscillations were derived from electroencephalographic recordings over the region of the contralateral senorimotor cortex (S1/M1) during rest, listening, or synchronized movement. Results At rest, spectral power recorded over the region of the contralateral S1/M1 was increased in the alpha band and decreased in the beta band in participants with PD relative to controls. During movement, the level of alpha and beta band power relative to baseline was significantly reduced in the PD group, off and on medication, compared to controls. Reduced movement amplitude and hastening at movement rates near 2 Hz was associated with abnormally suppressed and persistent desynchronization of oscillations in alpha and beta bands. Conclusion Motor cortical oscillations in the alpha and beta bands are abnormally suppressed in PD, particularly during higher rate movements. Significance These findings contribute to the understanding of mechanisms underlying impaired repetitive movement in PD.

Quantitative Electroencephalography Characteristics for Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review

“…Eleven studies assessed patients in Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) stages 2 and 3 of the disease, five studies [2-4, 30, 31] did not mention the stage and six [5,6,33,34,37] presented incomplete information. The dosage of levodopa intake varied between 216.7 ± 133.2 [7] and 1190 ± 465 mg/day [4]. Seven studies did not present the dosage of levodopa intake.…”

“…In order to provide better clinical intervention and treatment, several studies have attempted to identify biomarkers of central nervous system disorders for several neurological diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) [1]. Taking into consideration that biomarker measurements ideally should be cheap, available and noninvasive and that electroencephalograpic-abnormalities in brain wave patterns have been found in patients with PD [2][3][4][5][6][7], quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) seems to be a promising approach to investigate cortical biomarkers for PD. Indeed, a previous systematic review has demonstrated that qEEG could provide reliable and widely available biomarkers for nonmotor symptoms in PD [8].…”

Corticomuscular control of walking in older people and people with Parkinson’s disease

“…duration of beta bursts) were also found to be linked to freezing of gait (Anidi et al 2018). A number of studies that investigated cortical oscillatory activity during upper limb movements reported beta frequencies to be affected by PD (Pollok et al 2012, Heinrichs-Graham et al 2013, Hirschmann et al 2013, Stegemoller et al 2016. For instance, cortical beta power during static forearm contractions was increased in people with PD compared with healthy controls (Pollok et al 2012), although others reported it to be decreased (Heinrichs-Graham et al 2013, Stegemoller et al 2016.…”

Music Form but Not Music Experience Modulates Motor Cortical Activity in Response to Novel Music

“…The findings from our study have important implications for using music therapy and music and medicine interventions in persons with PD. Differences in beta band oscillations in the motor cortex have been shown in previous literature in persons with PD (Brown, 2007;Stegemöller et al, 2016Stegemöller et al, , 2017. This indicates that motor cortical activity in persons with PD is different than in healthy older adults.…”