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Differentiation in theta and gamma activation in weight-shifting learning between people with parkinson’s disease of different anxiety severities

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Abstract

Anxiety and postural control deficits may be related in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). However, the association between anxiety levels and weight-shifting control remains ambiguous. This study investigated whether 1) weight-shifting control differed between PwPD with and without anxiety, and 2) the learning effect of weight-shifting differed between the two populations. Additionally, we evaluated cortical activities to investigate neural mechanisms underlying weight-shifting control. Twenty-eight PwPD (14 anxiety, 14 nonanxiety) participated in a 5-day weight-shifting study by coupling the bearing weight of their more-affected leg to a sinusoidal target at 0.25 Hz. We tested the weight-shifting control on day 1 (pretest), day 3 (posttest), and day 5 (retention test) with a learning session on day 3. The error and jerk of weight-shifting trajectory and the theta and gamma powers of electroencephalography in prefrontal, frontal, sensorimotor and parietal-occipital areas were measured. At the pretest, the anxiety group showed larger error and smaller jerk of weight-shifting with greater prefrontal theta, frontal gamma, and sensorimotor gamma powers than the nonanxiety group. Anxiety intensity was correlated positively with weight-shifting error and theta power but negatively with weight-shifting jerk. Reduced weight-shifting error with increased theta power after weight-shifting learning was observed in the nonanxiety group. However, the anxiety group showed decreased gamma power after weight-shifting learning without behavior change. Our findings suggest differential weight-shifting control and associated cortical activation between PwPD with and without anxiety. In addition, anxiety would deteriorate weight-shifting control and hinder weight-shifting learning benefits in PwPD, leading to less weight-shifting accuracy and correction.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan (grant no. NSTC 112–2314-B-002–136-MY3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yu-Ting Hung & Cheng-Ya Huang

  2. Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ruey-Meei Wu

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Contributions

Conceptualization: R.M.W. and C.Y.H. Methodology: Y.T.H. and C.Y.H. Formal analysis: Y.T.H. and C.Y.H. Writing-original draft preparation: Y.T.H. and C.Y.H. Writing-review and editing: Y.T.H., R.M.W. and C.Y.H. Funding acquisition: C.Y.H.

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Correspondence to Cheng-Ya Huang.

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Hung, YT., Wu, RM. & Huang, CY. Differentiation in theta and gamma activation in weight-shifting learning between people with parkinson’s disease of different anxiety severities. GeroScience (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01236-7

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