Lower-limb express visuomotor responses are spared in Parkinson’s disease during step initiation from a stable position

Objective

While motor impairments in Parkinson’s Disease are well-studied, less is known about how people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD) can nevertheless rapidly transform vision into action. These transformations can be studied by measuring express visuomotor responses (EVRs), which are stimulus-directed bursts of muscle activity thought to originate from the superior colliculus, reaching the periphery via the tecto-reticulospinal pathway.

Methods

We examined EVRs in the lower limbs during goal-directed step initiation in 20 PwPD and 20 healthy controls (HC). As lower-limb EVRs in the young have been shown to interact with postural control – which are often affected in PwPD − we manipulated postural demands by varying stance width and target location.

Results

Under low postural demand, both groups expressed consistent EVRs. EVR magnitudes were significantly higher in PwPD, yet decreased with greater disease severity. Under high postural demands, EVRs were suppressed and followed by strong anticipatory postural adjustments, which were smaller in PwPD compared to HC.

Conclusions

The circuit mediating EVRs may be upregulated in early PD to compensate for motor deficits experienced in daily life, but becomes progressively impaired as PD advances.

Significance

These findings provide novel insight into the neural underpinnings of rapid stepping in health and disease.