Objective: This study aims to investigate the use of fNIRS in measuring the hemodynamic response of the brain during motor control tasks of increasing complexity in people with Parkinson disease (PwP) and healthy younger and older adults.

Background: Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that presents with bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability, and resting tremor. Motor learning and control are also affected in PwP; however, studies investigating the neural correlates of these deficits are often not informed by motor control theory. Gentile’s 2-D taxonomy is a motor control paradigm that systematically increases complexity, which may be used to create a more nuanced protocol compared to single vs. dual-tasking.

Method: We will use Gentile’s 2-D taxonomy to devise an experimental session based on motor control theory. Participants (15 PwP, Hoehn & Yahr I-III (50-85 years old); 15 older adults (OA) (50-85 years old); and 15 young adults (YA) (18-30 years old)) will perform dynamic and static balance tasks at increasing levels of complexity while wearing a Cortivision Spectrum C23 near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device (16×16 montage). Participants will also wear APDM Opal Sensors to evaluate aspects of movement, such as velocity, stride length, and sway.

Results: We aim to analyze the hemodynamic response differences of the frontal cortices between groups, as well as the interaction of group x task complexity level using repeated measures ANOVA. We predict that PwP will have an increased hemodynamic response compared to OA and YA, especially with increasing task complexity. We also aim to validate fNIRS using APDM Opal sensors to compare if changes in movement patterns are reflected in the hemodyanmic response as measured by the NIRS device with a similar sensitivity.

Conclusion: This study will be the first to validate functional NIRS (fNIRS) against APDM. We will also be the first to use a paradigm well established motor control theory in order to systematically increase complexity during an fNIRS mediated study. If results reach statistical significance, and are validated against APDM, this is a further step toward using fNIRS as a non-invasive and cost-effective outcome measurement tool in PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/brain-hemodynamic-responses-to-a-motor-control-paradigm-in-younger-and-older-adults-and-people-with-parkinsons-disease-an-fnirs-mediated-feasibility-study/