The Human Brain:
The Structural Basis for Understanding Human Brain Function and Dysfunction

+++ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE +++ ROME +++ IRCCS SANTA LUCIA +++ Oct. 5-10, 2002 +++
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Riccardo Pignatti
C.so Brodolini, 26 Vigevano (PV)
e-mail: pignatti@virgilio.it

Poster Presentation:
INFLUENCE OF MOTOR CONTROL DYSFUNCTIONS ON LEXICAL ABILITIES IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE.
R.Pignatti°, G. Albani*, C.Semenza°, KL Leenders^, A. Mauro*
°Lab of Psychology, Ist. Auxologico Italiano, Dept of Psychology, Univ of Trieste *Dept of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Ist. Auxologico Italiano; Dept of Neurosciences, Univ. of Turin; ^Dept. of Neurology, Academic Hosp. Groningen
We evaluated the differences in motor control organization between parkinsonian patients with and without freezing disorders. Patients with freezing showed a lower activaction of electromyography patterns in response to an increment speed on the treadmill. Then, we used positron emission tomography to measure regional cerebral blood flow as a correlate for neural activity. Brain activaction was assessed during repetitive joystick movements of the right hand. In parkinsonian patients without freezing, the controlateral supplementar motor cortex and the bilateral cerebellum were activated, while in parkinsonian with freezing the Broca's area, the controlateral sensory motor cortex and the homolaterale cerebellum were activated. In another group of patients (even with versus without freezing) we evaluated lexical abilities concerning nouns and verbs denomination. Difficulties in denomination of nouns or verbs have been correlated with lesions of the anterior and the posterior areas of the brain. A general exam of cognitive functions was performed by means of MMSE and Raven test (PM 38, set A-D). The lexical test was represented by two parts: 1) denomination of 52 pictures with object-nouns and 50 pictures with actions-verbs within 1 minute. 2) repetition of 25 nouns and 25 verbs within 10 seconds, starting from the denomination performed by the examinator. Parkinsonian with freezing showed better performances in lexical recall. Conclusions: the Broca's area might facilitate walking, by supplying for the reduced activaction of the supplementar motor area in parkinsonian with freezing.

 
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