title: Dopamine modulation affects the performance of parkinsonian patients in a precision motor task measured by an antropomorphic device.
abstract: Several parameters related to the timing, grip force and load force involved in a precision grasping task were studied in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) at different moments of medication and healthy controls, using a sensorized anthropomorphic device which was totally adapted to the human hand. The aim of this work was to carry out an accurate study of the reach-load-grip-hold-place-release subtasks to identify any physical motor impairment, its relation to medication and Parkinsonian strategies. Twenty seven patients in ON and OFF-like medication moments, and twenty seven age-matched controls took part in the experiment, which consisted of using the index finger and the thumb to perform a precision motor task involving different experimental objects. Visual cues were used as distracting elements. Results showed several motor parameters impaired in OFF-like medication moment but attenuated in ON state, suggesting a medication effect on the performance of the task.
authors.affiliation: NiCE - Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience, CIBERNED, Human Anatomy and Psychobiology Department, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain. cnombela@um.es
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nombela
authors.forename: Juan Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pedreño-Molina
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ros-Bernal
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molina-Vilaplana
authors.forename: Emiliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fdez-Villalba
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Coronado
authors.forename: María-Trinidad
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Herrero
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D052581:Pinch Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014892:Weight Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine