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  • Bek et al PD(accepted1Nov2018)

    Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 61, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2018.11.001

    Accepted author manuscript, 1.95 MB, PDF document

    Available under license: CC BY-NC-ND: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

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Combined action observation and motor imagery influences hand movement amplitude in Parkinson's disease

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>1/04/2019
<mark>Journal</mark>Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
Volume61
Number of pages6
Pages (from-to)126-131
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date9/11/18
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Background: Action observation (AO) activates the motor system, influencing movement and increasing learning, and has been shown to improve speed and timing of movement in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Importantly, however, effects on movement amplitude have not been quantitatively demonstrated. Additionally, motor imagery (MI) can increase behavioural and neural effects of AO, but the combined effects of AO+MI have never previously been explored in PD. The aim of this study was to investigate imitation of hand movement amplitude in people with PD following (i) AO and (ii) combined AO+MI.

Methods: Twenty-four participants with mild to moderate PD and 24 healthy older adults observed and imitated videos showing a human hand moving between horizontal positions. Kinematics were recorded and modulation of vertical amplitude when replicating elevated vs. direct movements provided an index of imitation. After an initial set of AO trials, participants were instructed to engage in MI during observation for the remaining trials (AO+MI), emphasizing kinaesthetic (sensory) imagery.

Results: Movement amplitude was imitated (modulated) for elevated vs. direct stimuli by both groups, and this imitation increased following MI instructions.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate quantitatively for the first time that people with PD are able to modulate the amplitude of their hand movements following action observation, and that combining AO and MI increases imitation in PD. The effects parallel findings in healthy young participants, and indicate that combined action observation and motor imagery could be a promising therapeutic approach for PD.

Bibliographic note

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 61, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2018.11.001