Abstract
Voluntary movements induce postural perturbations, which are counteracted by anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) that preserve body equilibrium. Little is known about the neural structures generating APAs, but several studies suggested a role of sensory–motor areas, basal ganglia, supplementary motor area and thalamus. However, the role of the cerebellum still remains an open question. The aim of this present paper is to shed further light on the role of cerebellum in APAs organization. Thus, APAs that stabilize the arm when the index finger is briskly flexed were recorded in 13 ataxic subjects (seven sporadic cases, four dominant ataxia type III and two autosomal recessive), presenting a slowly progressive cerebellar syndrome with four-limb dysmetria, and compared with those obtained in 13 healthy subjects. The pattern of postural activity was similar in the two groups [excitation in triceps and inhibition in biceps and anterior deltoid (AD)], but apparent modifications in timing were observed in all ataxic subjects in which, on average, triceps brachii excitation lagged the onset of the prime mover flexor digitorum superficialis by about 27 ms and biceps and AD inhibition were almost synchronous to it. Instead, in normal subjects, triceps onset was synchronous to the prime mover and biceps and AD anticipated it by about 40 ms. The observed disruption of the intra-limb APA organization confirms that the cerebellum is involved in APA control and, considering cerebellar subjects as a model of dysmetria, also supports the view that a proper APA chain may play a crucial role in refining movement metria.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 197-203 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Experimental Brain Research |
| Volume | 233 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- APA
- Ataxia
- Cerebellum
- Human
- Motor control
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Temporal disruption of upper-limb anticipatory postural adjustments in cerebellar ataxic patients. / Bruttini, Carlo; Esposti, Roberto; Bolzoni, Francesco; Vanotti, Alessandra; Mariotti, Caterina; Cavallari, Paolo.
In: Experimental Brain Research, Vol. 233, No. 1, 2014, p. 197-203.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Temporal disruption of upper-limb anticipatory postural adjustments in cerebellar ataxic patients
AU - Bruttini, Carlo
AU - Esposti, Roberto
AU - Bolzoni, Francesco
AU - Vanotti, Alessandra
AU - Mariotti, Caterina
AU - Cavallari, Paolo
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Voluntary movements induce postural perturbations, which are counteracted by anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) that preserve body equilibrium. Little is known about the neural structures generating APAs, but several studies suggested a role of sensory–motor areas, basal ganglia, supplementary motor area and thalamus. However, the role of the cerebellum still remains an open question. The aim of this present paper is to shed further light on the role of cerebellum in APAs organization. Thus, APAs that stabilize the arm when the index finger is briskly flexed were recorded in 13 ataxic subjects (seven sporadic cases, four dominant ataxia type III and two autosomal recessive), presenting a slowly progressive cerebellar syndrome with four-limb dysmetria, and compared with those obtained in 13 healthy subjects. The pattern of postural activity was similar in the two groups [excitation in triceps and inhibition in biceps and anterior deltoid (AD)], but apparent modifications in timing were observed in all ataxic subjects in which, on average, triceps brachii excitation lagged the onset of the prime mover flexor digitorum superficialis by about 27 ms and biceps and AD inhibition were almost synchronous to it. Instead, in normal subjects, triceps onset was synchronous to the prime mover and biceps and AD anticipated it by about 40 ms. The observed disruption of the intra-limb APA organization confirms that the cerebellum is involved in APA control and, considering cerebellar subjects as a model of dysmetria, also supports the view that a proper APA chain may play a crucial role in refining movement metria.
AB - Voluntary movements induce postural perturbations, which are counteracted by anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) that preserve body equilibrium. Little is known about the neural structures generating APAs, but several studies suggested a role of sensory–motor areas, basal ganglia, supplementary motor area and thalamus. However, the role of the cerebellum still remains an open question. The aim of this present paper is to shed further light on the role of cerebellum in APAs organization. Thus, APAs that stabilize the arm when the index finger is briskly flexed were recorded in 13 ataxic subjects (seven sporadic cases, four dominant ataxia type III and two autosomal recessive), presenting a slowly progressive cerebellar syndrome with four-limb dysmetria, and compared with those obtained in 13 healthy subjects. The pattern of postural activity was similar in the two groups [excitation in triceps and inhibition in biceps and anterior deltoid (AD)], but apparent modifications in timing were observed in all ataxic subjects in which, on average, triceps brachii excitation lagged the onset of the prime mover flexor digitorum superficialis by about 27 ms and biceps and AD inhibition were almost synchronous to it. Instead, in normal subjects, triceps onset was synchronous to the prime mover and biceps and AD anticipated it by about 40 ms. The observed disruption of the intra-limb APA organization confirms that the cerebellum is involved in APA control and, considering cerebellar subjects as a model of dysmetria, also supports the view that a proper APA chain may play a crucial role in refining movement metria.
KW - APA
KW - Ataxia
KW - Cerebellum
KW - Human
KW - Motor control
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84922079117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84922079117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00221-014-4103-x
DO - 10.1007/s00221-014-4103-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 25245658
AN - SCOPUS:84922079117
VL - 233
SP - 197
EP - 203
JO - Experimental Brain Research
JF - Experimental Brain Research
SN - 0014-4819
IS - 1
ER -