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Learning and retention of movement sequences in Parkinson's disease
Author(s) -
SmileyOyen Ann L.,
Lowry Kristin A.,
Emerson Quinn R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.20906
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , motor learning , psychology , parkinson's disease , task (project management) , procedural memory , physical medicine and rehabilitation , motor skill , movement (music) , developmental psychology , cognition , audiology , cognitive psychology , disease , medicine , neuroscience , paleontology , philosophy , management , economics , biology , aesthetics
The purpose of this study was to examine motor learning and retention given extensive practice in two fundamentally different movement sequences. One sequence was a memory‐driven task (performing a series of whole body positions from memory) and the other a context‐driven task (buttoning). Practice took place over 3 weeks, with performance measured weekly; retention was measured weekly for 3 weeks after practice. There were 7 people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 7 age‐matched neurologically healthy people who participated in this study. Both groups improved performance on both tasks with practice, with the majority of the change for the PD group occurring between 1 and 2 weeks of practice. Although those with PD did not necessarily perform as well as age‐matched controls, they learned both sequences in a manner similar to age‐matched controls, and exhibited retention across the 3‐week retention interval. If people with PD are given sufficient practice they can learn and retain both memory‐based and context‐driven movement sequences as well as age‐matched controls. The results provide support for maintaining physical activity and for intervention through movement therapy. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society