Abstract #4454

Compensatory Mechanisms During Motor Sequence Learning in Parkinsons Disease. a FMRI Study.

Maite Aznarez-Sanado¹, Maria Asuncion Fernandez-Seara¹, Federico Villagra¹, Francis R. Loayza¹, Jaione Irigoyen¹, Gonzalo Arrondo¹, Elena Erro², Maria Asuncion Pastor¹

¹Neuroscience, Center for Applied Medical Research. University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain; ²Servicio de Neurologa, Hospital de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra

We aimed to study using fMRI differences in neural patterns during motor sequence learning and automatic performance in Parkinsons disease (PD) patients. The comparison of the early learning phase in the PD group with the control group revealed increased activity in cortical and cerebellar areas and right putamen in the PD group. The most affected hand recruited contralateral basal ganglia more significantly than the non affected hand in the PD group.