Neural Substrates of Cognitive Skill Learning in Parkinson's Disease

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Neural Substrates of Cognitive Skill Learning in Parkinson's Disease
Language: English
Authors: Beauchamp, M. H., Dagher, A., Panisset, M.
Source: Brain and Cognition. Nov 2008 68(2):134-143.
Availability: Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2008
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Neurological Impairments, Thinking Skills, Brain, Memory, Learning
DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2008.03.008
ISSN: 0278-2626
Abstract: While cognitive skill learning is normally acquired implicitly through frontostrial circuitry in healthy individuals, neuroimaging studies suggest that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) do so by activating alternate, intact brain areas associated with explicit memory processing. To further test this hypothesis, 10 patients with PD and 12 healthy controls were tested on a modified, learning version of the Tower of London task while undergoing positron emission tomography at four different time points over the course of learning. Despite having less accurate problem solving abilities than controls, PD patients were able to acquire the skill learning task. However, as compared to controls, they maintained higher levels of cerebral blood flow activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and showed an increase in activity in the frontopolar cortex and posterior cingulate over the course of learning. These findings reflect a shift to the explicit memory system in PD patients, enabling them to learn this cognitive skill, which is normally acquired by control subjects using implicit learning strategies and frontostriatal circuitry. (Contains 2 tables and 5 figures.)
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2008
Accession Number: EJ815836
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:While cognitive skill learning is normally acquired implicitly through frontostrial circuitry in healthy individuals, neuroimaging studies suggest that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) do so by activating alternate, intact brain areas associated with explicit memory processing. To further test this hypothesis, 10 patients with PD and 12 healthy controls were tested on a modified, learning version of the Tower of London task while undergoing positron emission tomography at four different time points over the course of learning. Despite having less accurate problem solving abilities than controls, PD patients were able to acquire the skill learning task. However, as compared to controls, they maintained higher levels of cerebral blood flow activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and showed an increase in activity in the frontopolar cortex and posterior cingulate over the course of learning. These findings reflect a shift to the explicit memory system in PD patients, enabling them to learn this cognitive skill, which is normally acquired by control subjects using implicit learning strategies and frontostriatal circuitry. (Contains 2 tables and 5 figures.)
ISSN:0278-2626
DOI:10.1016/j.bandc.2008.03.008