Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Motor learning in Parkinson's disease: limitations and potential for rehabilitation

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Lynn RochesterORCiD

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

The striatum is very much involved in learning motor sequences particularly in the consolidation phase, predicting that motor learning is affected in Parkinson's disease (PD). We conducted a literature review on this question and showed that behavioural studies indicate a relatively preserved acquisition as well as retention of motor learning in PD. Persons with PD did demonstrate slower learning-rates than controls. Brain imaging studies highlighted that much more brain activity is needed and different neural networks are recruited in PD, suggesting a reduced efficiency of learning. Using additional sensory information may optimize motor learning in PD. There is abundant evidence that cueing helps to achieve better movement performance and that these effects are retained immediately after withdrawal, possibly indicating the first signs of consolidation. Also, automatization of cued learning was demonstrated, as cues not only enhanced dual-task performance but these increments were retained after cue withdrawal. However, the effect of longer periods of cued training on retention of cued and uncued performance is not well established and some studies suggest that learning effects may be cue-dependent. The results of this review support the notion that adopting motor learning principles could benefit rehabilitation in PD. Even so, the limitations of reduced flexibility, efficiency and increased context-specificity of motor learning in PD need to be taken into account. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Nieuwboer A, Rochester L, Müncks L, Swinnen S

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Parkinsonism and Related Disorders

Year: 2009

Volume: 15

Issue: 3

Pages: S53-S58

ISSN (print): 1353-8020

ISSN (electronic): 1873-5126

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1353-8020(09)70781-3

DOI: 10.1016/S1353-8020(09)70781-3

Notes: Proceedings of WFN XVIII World Congress on Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share