title: Proximal and distal reaction times (RTs) are not differentially affected in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: The hypothesis was tested that proximal and distal reaction times (RTs) might be differentially affected in Parkinson's disease (PD). Twelve patients with PD were compared with 12 age-matched healthy controls on tests of finger-, hand-, leg-, and torso-RTs. Patients were significantly slower in initiating all movements and were slower in executing all movements except for the leg (stepping) task. Choice- versus simple-RTs were also not differentially affected in the PD group. In the healthy subjects, age was significantly positively correlated with response initiation times (RITs) but not with movement times (MTs).
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Schugens
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Daum
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Canavan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D010276:Parasympatholytics