Abstract
Healthy individuals (n = 6) and a patient with “pure” primary writing tremor executed pointing and drawing movements while adopting different hand postures. The control subjects and the patient exhibited similar kinematics for most conditions. The patient displayed a severe right hand 4- to 6-Hz tremor and prolonged movements only when drawing with his normal hand posture. His tremor was manifested after a ready cue, in anticipation of a go command. The premovement tremor was abolished when the authors simply eliminated the ready cue and instructed the patient to relax and not think about drawing until he heard the go cue. Thus, the patient's writing tremor depended not only upon the writing or drawing act but also upon the hand position adopted and the intent to write, even in the absence of movement. The present results suggest that (a) similar high-level control mechanisms exist for pointing and drawing in healthy subjects and (b) the patient's deficits are compatible with a higher motor defect in central nervous system structures involved in the control of pointing and drawing movements.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.