Irrelevant peripheral visual stimuli impair manual reaction times in Parkinson's disease

Vision Research
S A McDowell, J Harris

Abstract

In three experiments, the effects of irrelevant visual information on the time to initiate and to complete a simple movement of the hand in response to a visual signal were studied in patients with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, and in age-matched normal controls. Subjects gazed at the centre of a TV monitor and were instructed to move their preferred hand from one metal plate to another as soon as a blue disc appeared in the centre of the screen. This control condition was compared with other conditions in which the surrounding area of the screen was simultaneously filled with fields of irrelevant discs, which in Experiment 1 were either stationary, or streamed out from or in towards the centre of the screen. Reaction times, but not movement times, were significantly slowed in the patients (but not the controls) by the irrelevant disc fields. When the irrelevant dots were continuously present (between as well as within trials--Experiment 2), they had no effect on RT. When they were present between trials, but turned off as the movement signal was turned on, RT was again slowed in patients. The results are discussed in relation to the akinesia ("freezing") experienced by some patients in confined spaces (such as doorways),...Continue Reading

References

Dec 1, 1978·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·I Bodis-Wollner, M D Yahr
Oct 1, 1992·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·J P HarrisO T Phillipson
Jul 1, 1990·Trends in Neurosciences·G Chevalier, J M Deniau
Jun 1, 1990·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·M H Sharpe
Apr 1, 1989·Trends in Neurosciences·P DeanG W Westby
Jan 1, 1968·Psychologische Forschung·C B Trevarthen
Jan 1, 1967·Psychologische Forschung·G E Schneider
May 1, 1967·Neurology·M M Hoehn, M D Yahr
Jun 1, 1984·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·C A BloxhamC D Frith
Sep 1, 1982·Annals of Neurology·A E LangJ D Parkes
Mar 1, 1981·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·E V EvartsD B Calne
Aug 1, 1994·Journal of Neurology·M ZappiaA Quattrone
Sep 1, 1994·Movement Disorders : Official Journal of the Movement Disorder Society·B A HaugW Paulus

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 19, 2001·Movement Disorders : Official Journal of the Movement Disorder Society·A NieuwboerE Broens-Kaucsik
Aug 5, 2011·Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS·Daniel R SeichepineAlice Cronin-Golomb
May 12, 2009·Neuropsychologia·Amanda PriceW Todd Maddox
Mar 1, 2005·Vision Research·Sigurros DavidsdottirAlison Lee
Sep 19, 2006·Neuropsychologia·J Vincent FiloteoDavid D Song
Jul 15, 2016·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·Rimona S WeilHuw R Morris
Mar 21, 2006·Journal of Human Evolution·Lynne A Isbell
May 5, 2006·Perceptual and Motor Skills·Katherine L PossinJ Vincent Filoteo
Jun 25, 2018·Current Treatment Options in Neurology·Joseph Savitt, Michaela Mathews

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.