Spatiotemporal contrast sensitivity differs in normal aging and Parkinson's disease.
We measured contrast sensitivity for static and laterally drifting vertical gratings in 12 young adults, 7 normal elderly adults, and 8 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We compared static and motion contrast sensitivity for spatial frequencies of 0.25, 1, and 4 cycles per degree (cpd), and temporal frequencies of 1, 3, and 9 Hz. Results show that normal aging leads to a reduction of motion sensitivity for the spatial frequency of 0.25 cpd. Compared with elderly controls, PD patients do not present specific abnormalities in this domain. However, for spatial frequencies of 1 and 4 cpd and temporal frequencies of 1 and 3 Hz, motion sensitivity is worse than static sensitivity in PD patients and not in elderly controls. These findings suggest a specific deficit of motion perception in PD, and possible dopaminergic involvement in the control of visuospatial behavior.
Mestre
D
D
Laboratory Cognition & Movement, University Aix-Marseille II, France.
Blin
O
O
Serratrice
G
G
Pailhous
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D004298:Dopamine / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009039:Motion Perception; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D013028:Space Perception; D013998:Time Perception
D004298:Dopamine