Improvement of Kinaesthetic Deficits by Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease

Recent studies have revealed that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit kinaesthesic deficits. For example, they have higher perceptual thresholds in detecting passive elbow movements. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) improves motor deficits in PD, but its effect on kinaesthesia is unknown. We have now examined how STN DBS affects the perception of limb position. 9 PD patients with bilateral chronic STN DBS and 7 controls were tested. The subject's forearm was moved passively (˜ 0.5 deg/s) while resting on a splint. A torque motor was mechanically connected to the splint, mo…