Dystonia

Slowed luminance reaction times in cervical dystonia: disordered superior colliculus processing

Background Abnormal temporal discrimination in cervical dystonia is hypothesized to be attributable to disrupted processing in the superior colliculus. The fast, luminance-based, retinotectal pathway, projects to the superior colliculus; chromatic …

Disrupted superior collicular activity may reveal cervical dystonia disease pathomechanisms

Cervical dystonia is a common neurological movement disorder characterised by muscle contractions causing abnormal movements and postures affecting the head and neck. The neural networks underpinning this condition are incompletely understood. While …

Measurement & analysis of the temporal discrimination threshold applied to cervical dystonia

The temporal discrimination threshold (TDT) is the shortest time interval at which an observer can discriminate two sequential stimuli as being asynchronous (typically 30-50 ms). It has been shown to be abnormal (prolonged) in neurological disorders, …

A comparison of stimulus presentation methods in temporal discrimination testing

The temporal discrimination threshold (TDT) is the shortest time interval at which an individual detects two stimuli to be asynchronous (normal=30–50ms). It has been shown to be abnormal in patients with disorders affecting the basal ganglia …

Epidemiological, clinical and genetic aspects of adult onset isolated focal dystonia in Ireland

Background Adult onset primary torsion dystonia (AOPTD) is a poorly penetrant autosomal dominant disorder; most gene carriers are non-manifesting despite having reached an adequate age for penetrance. It is hypothesised that genetic, epigenetic and …

Menstrual cycle and the temporal discrimination threshold

The temporal discrimination threshold (TDT) is a proposed pre-clinical biomarker (endophenotype) for adult onset isolated focal dystonia (AOIFD). Age- and sex-related effects on temporal discrimination demonstrate that women, before the age of 40 …

Application of virtual reality head mounted display for investigation of movement: a novel effect of orientation of attention

Objective. To date human kinematics research has relied on video processing, motion capture and magnetic search coil data acquisition techniques. However, the use of head mounted display virtual reality systems, as a novel research tool, could …

Sun exposure is an environmental factor for the development of blepharospasm

Background Adult-onset isolated focal dystonia may present with various phenotypes including blepharospasm and cervical dystonia. Although inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with a markedly reduced penetrance, environmental factors are …

Age related sexual dimorphism in temporal discrimination and in adult onset dystonia suggests GABAergic mechanisms

Background: Adult-onset isolated focal dystonia (AOIFD) presenting in early adult life is more frequent in men, whereas in middle age it is female predominant. Temporal discrimination, an endophenotype of adult-onset idiopathic isolated focal …

Non-parametric bootstrapping method for measuring the temporal discrimination threshold for movement disorders

Objective. Recent studies have proposed that the temporal discrimination threshold (TDT), the shortest detectable time period between two stimuli, is a possible endophenotype for adult onset idiopathic isolated focal dystonia (AOIFD). Patients with …