Rethinking Movement Disorders

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

At present, clinical practice and research in movement disorders (MDs) focus on the “normalization” of altered movements. In this review, rather than concentrating on problems and burdens people with MDs undoubtedly have, we highlight their hidden potentials. Starting with current definitions of Parkinson's disease (PD), dystonia, chorea, and tics, we outline that solely conceiving these phenomena as signs of dysfunction falls short of their complex nature comprising both problems and potentials. Such potentials can be traced and understood in light of well-established cognitive neuroscience frameworks, particularly ideomotor principles, and their influential modern derivatives. Using these frameworks, the wealth of data on altered perception-action integration in the different MDs can be explained and systematized using the mechanism-oriented concept of perception-action binding. According to this concept, MDs can be understood as phenomena requiring and fostering flexible modifications of perception-action associations. Consequently, although conceived as being caught in a (trough) state of deficits, given their high flexibility, people with MDs also have high potential to switch to (adaptive) peak activity that can be conceptualized as hidden potentials. Currently, clinical practice and research in MDs are concerned with deficits and thus the “deep and wide troughs,” whereas “scattered narrow peaks” reflecting hidden potentials are neglected. To better delineate and utilize the latter to alleviate the burden of affected people, and destigmatize their conditions, we suggest some measures, including computational modeling combined with neurophysiological methods and tailored treatment.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)472-484
Number of pages13
JournalMovement disorders
Volume39
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38196315
ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/160952404

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • hidden potential, ideomotor theory, metacontrol, movement disorders, Parkinson Disease, Tics, Humans, Chorea, Dystonia, Movement Disorders