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Dopamine Alters Tactile Perception in Parkinson's Disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Aimee J. Nelson*
Affiliation:
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo Division of Neurology and Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Azra Premji
Affiliation:
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo
Navjot Rai
Affiliation:
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo
Tasnuva Hoque
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology and Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mark Tommerdahl
Affiliation:
Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Robert Chen
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology and Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*
University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., BMH 1116, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Abstract

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Background:

Abnormal somatosensory processing may contribute to motor impairments observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). Dopaminergic medications have been shown to alter somatosensory processing such that tactile perception is improved. In PD, it remains unclear whether the temporal sequencing of tactile stimuli is altered and if dopaminergic medications alter this perception.

Methods:

Somatosensory tactile perception was investigated using temporal order judgment in patients with Parkinson's disease on and off dopaminergic medications and in aged-matched healthy controls. Measures of temporal order judgment were acquired using computer controlled stimulation to digits 2 and 3 on the right hand and subjects were required to determine which stimuli occurred first. Two experimental tasks were compared, temporal order judgment without and with synchronization whereby digits 2 and 3 were vibrated synchronously in advance of the temporal order judgment sequence of stimuli.

Results:

Temporal order judgment in PD patients off and on medications were similar to controls. Temporal order judgment preceded by synchronous vibration impaired tactile acuity in controls and in PD off medications to similar degrees, but this perceptual impairment by synchronous vibration was not present in PD patients on medications.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that dopamine in PD reduces cortico-cortical connectivity within SI and this leads to changes in tactile sensitivity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2012

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