Task-related EEG-EEG coherence depends on dopaminergic activity in Parkinson's disease.

Journal article

We investigated whether functional coupling between different cortical areas is impaired in Parkinson's disease, using corticocortical coherence as a surrogate measure of coupling. We recorded scalp EEG from different sites in seven parkinsonian patients while they tracked a visual target using their wrist, or copied the same movement from memory. Differences in EEG-EEG coherence between the tracking and copying tasks and their respective controls, visual tracking alone and fixation of a stationary target, were determined on and off levodopa. After levodopa we found extensive task-specific and broad band cortico-cortical coherence. Off levodopa cortico-cortical coherence was much reduced. Ascending dopaminergic projections from the ventral mesencephalon may therefore be important in determining the pattern and extent of corticocortical coupling during executive tasks.

Authors: Cassidy, M; Brown, P

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Neuroreport
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 703-707
• Publication date: 2001-03-01
• DOI: 10.1097/00001756-200103260-00018
• EISSN: 1473-558X
• ISSN: 0959-4965
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Antiparkinson Agents; Levodopa; Cerebral Cortex; Dopamine; Neural Pathways; Reticular Formation; Basal Ganglia; Female; Aged; Male; Electroencephalography; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease; Psychomotor Performance