Journal Article

Dopa therapy and action impulsivity: subthreshold error activation and suppression in Parkinson’s disease

Burle, Borís, van den Wildenberg, Wery P. M., Deveaux, Manon, Azulay, Jean-Philippe, Eusebio, Alexandre, Hasbroucq, Thierry, Fluchère, Frédérique, Vidal, Franck, Witjas, Tatiana

2015

Overview

Rationale Impulsive actions entail (1) capture of the motor system by an action impulse, which is an urge to act and (2) failed suppression of that impulse in order to prevent a response error. Several studies indicate that dopaminergic treatment can induce action impulsivity in patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Whether this effect is due to increased impulse expression or to decreased impulse suppression remains to be deciphered. Method We used a novel approach based on electromyographic (EMG) analyses to decipher the effects of the patient’s usual dopaminergic therapy on the expression and suppression of subliminal erroneous impulses. To this end, we used a within-subject design and took advantage of the Simon task, that elicits prepotent response tendencies. The patients ( N  = 15) performed the task on their usual dopaminergic medication and after complete medication withdrawal (for at least 12 h). Results The correction rate that measures the ability to suppress subthreshold impulsive muscle activity was lower when the patients were on medication as compared to their off medication state ( p  < 0.05). The incorrect activation rate that measures the capture of the motor system by action impulses was unaffected by medication. Conclusions Dopa therapy affected action impulsivity. Although medication did not influence the incidence of fast action impulses, it significantly reduced patients’ ability to abort and suppress muscle activation related to the incorrect response alternative.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer,Springer Nature B.V,Springer Verlag
• Subject: Administration, Oral / Adult / Aged / Antiparkinson Agents - administration & dosage / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cognitive science / Complications and side effects / Diagnosis / Dopa / Dopamine / Dopamine - metabolism / Dopamine Agonists - administration & dosage / Dosage and administration / Drug therapy / Female / Humans / Impulsive Behavior - drug effects / Impulsive Behavior - physiology / Levodopa - administration & dosage / Male / Middle Aged / Neuroscience / Neurosciences / Original Investigation / Parkinson Disease - drug therapy / Parkinson Disease - psychology / Parkinson's disease / Pharmacology/Toxicology / Photic Stimulation - methods / Psychiatry / Psychopharmacology / Reaction Time - drug effects / Reaction Time - physiology