| Preservation of motor skill learning in patients with multiple sclerosis. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20834040 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated benefits of rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the neuroscientific foundations for rehabilitation in MS are poorly established. OBJECTIVES: As rehabilitation and motor learning share similar mechanisms of brain plasticity, we test whether the dynamics of skill learning are preserved in MS patients relative to controls. METHODS: MS patients and controls learned a repeating sequence of hand movements and were assessed for short-term learning. Long-term learning was tested in another cohort of patients and controls practising the same sequence daily for two weeks. RESULTS: Despite differences in baseline performance, the dynamics and extent of improvements were comparable between MS and control groups for both the short- and long-term learning. Even the most severely damaged patients were capable of performance improvements of similar magnitude to that seen in controls. After one week of training patients performed as well as the controls at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanisms for short- and long-term plasticity may compensate for impaired functional connectivity in MS to mediate behavioural improvements. Future studies are needed to define the neurobiological substrates of this plasticity and the extent to which mechanisms of plasticity in patients may be distinct from those used for motor learning in controls. |
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Authors:
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Valentina Tomassini; Heidi Johansen-Berg; Laura Leonardi; Luis Paixão; Saad Jbabdi; Jackie Palace; Carlo Pozzilli; Paul M Matthews |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2010-09-10 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) Volume: 17 ISSN: 1477-0970 ISO Abbreviation: Mult. Scler. Publication Date: 2011 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-01-05 Completed Date: 2011-04-18 Revised Date: 2011-11-04 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9509185 Medline TA: Mult Scler Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 103-15 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. valentt@fmrib.ox.ac.uk |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adult Brain / pathology, physiopathology* Case-Control Studies Cross-Sectional Studies Disability Evaluation England Female Humans Italy Learning* Male Middle Aged Motor Skills* Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis, physiopathology*, psychology, rehabilitation Neuronal Plasticity* Prospective Studies Psychomotor Performance Severity of Illness Index Time Factors |
| Grant Support | |
ID/Acronym/Agency:
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078204//Wellcome Trust; 829//Multiple Sclerosis Society |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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