Effect of subthalamic stimulation on distal and proximal upper limb movements in Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Brain research 2016-10, Vol.1648 (Pt A), p.438-444
• Main Authors: Tamás, Gertrúd, Kelemen, Andrea, Radics, Péter, Valálik, István, Heldman, Dustin, Klivényi, Péter, Vécsei, László, Hidasi, Eszter, Halász, László, Kis, Dávid, Barsi, Péter, Golopencza, Péter, Erőss, Loránd
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bilateral stimulation; Biomechanical Phenomena; Deep brain stimulation; Deep Brain Stimulation - methods; Distal movement; Female; Fingers - physiopathology; Hand Strength; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Neurology; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Parkinson's disease; Proximal movement; Recovery of Function; Subthalamic Nucleus - physiopathology; Unilateral stimulation; Upper Extremity - physiopathology
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.08.019

Abstract Introduction A different innervation pattern of proximal and distal muscles from the contra- and ipsilateral motor circuits raises the question as to whether bilateral, contra- and ipsilateral subthalamic stimulation may have different effects on the distal and proximal movements of the upper limb. To answer this question, we performed kinematic analyzes in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods Twenty-eight Parkinsonian patients treated by bilateral subthalamic stimulation were examined with an age-matched control group of 28 healthy subjects. They performed 14 seconds of finger tapping, hand grasping and pronation-supination. The patient group performed these sessions in four conditions (BOTH ON, BOTH OFF, CONTRA ON, IPSI ON) after withdrawal of dopaminergic medication for 12 hours and a fifth condition after taking medication (BOTH ON-MED ON). A motion sensor with a three-dimensional gyroscope was worn on the index finger. Speed, amplitude, rhythm and decrement of movements were calculated and compared across these conditions. Results Speed and amplitude of the more distal movements were improved similarly by contra- and bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation was more effective than contralateral stimulation for the more proximal movements. Contra- and bilateral stimulation ameliorated the rhythm similarly in each movement task. Decrement of distal and proximal movements was not affected by the stimulation conditions. Conclusion This is the first study to show that the outcome of bi- and unilateral subthalamic stimulation on proximal and distal upper limb movements should be evaluated separately postulating the different somatotopic organization of subloops in the cortico-basal ganglia motor circuits.