The effects of beat and non-beat factors on gait and the neural mechanisms of beat perception in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Healthy participants aged between 18 and 70 years with normal/corrected-to-normal vision and self-reported normal hearing.

Control Group:
- No prior history of neurological disorder/disease

Patient Group:
- Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease as per a licensed neurologist
- Treated with dopamine-replacement or dopamine agonist therapy.
- Able to walk on the sensory walkway without external assistance.

Healthy participants will undergo a series of computer-based tests that measure rhythm and timing ability, and/or general cognitive functioning.

Volunteers with Parkinson's disease will have a brief interview to obtain demographic and relevant medical history (15 min), a brief neurological examination with ascertainment of the United Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale score (5-10 min), and an administration of screening tools for apathy, depression, and anxiety (Starkstein’s Apathy Scale; Beck Depression Inventory; Beck Anxiety Inventory), and estimation of IQ (Adult National Reading Test).

Each participant will be played different clips of music from a variety of genres, and rate each clip on various factors including familiarity, liking, and energy level. In the same session or a later session their movement will be recorded with a sensor walkway system while different music clips that have been selected on the basis of that individual's ratings are played. After each behavioural session, the participant will be given the opportunity to ask questions about the research.

Principal Investigator: Jessica Grahn
Study posted on: August 2nd, 2019
Recruitment open until: April 30th, 2024

For more information about this study please contact:

Kristi Von Handorf
kvonhand@uwo.ca