Time estimation and arousal responses in dopa-responsive dystonia

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Leonie F. Becker - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • Sinem Tunc - , University of Lübeck, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Lübeck (Author)
  • Peter Murphy - , University of Hamburg, Trinity College Dublin, Bernstein Center Computational Neuroscience Berlin (Author)
  • Tobias Bäumer - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • Anne Weissbach - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • Martje G. Pauly - , University of Lübeck, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Lübeck (Author)
  • Duha M. Al-Shorafat - , University of Toronto, Jordan University of Science and Technology (Author)
  • Gerard Saranza - , University of Toronto, Chong Hua Hospital (Author)
  • Anthony E. Lang - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • Christian Beste - , Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Tobias H. Donner - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Julius Verrel - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • Alexander Münchau - , University of Lübeck (Author)

Abstract

Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is caused by an impaired dopamine biosynthesis due to a GTP-cyclohydrolase-1 (GCH1) deficiency, resulting in a combination of dystonia and parkinsonism. However, the effect of GCH1 mutations and levodopa treatment on motor control beyond simple movements, such as timing, action preparation and feedback processing, have not been investigated so far. In an active time estimation task with trial-by-trial feedback, participants indicated a target interval (1200 ms) by a motor response. We compared 12 patients tested (in fixed order) under their current levodopa medication ("ON") and after levodopa withdrawal ("OFF") to matched healthy controls (HC), measured twice to control for repetition effects. We assessed time estimation accuracy, trial-to-trial adjustment, as well as task- and feedback-related pupil-linked arousal responses. Patients showed comparable time estimation accuracy ON medication as HC but reduced performance OFF medication. Task-related pupil responses showed the reverse pattern. Trial-to-trial adjustments of response times were reduced in DRD, particularly OFF medication. Our results indicate differential alterations of time estimation accuracy and task-related arousal dynamics in DRD patients as a function of dopaminergic medication state. A medication-independent alteration of task repetition effects in DRD cannot be ruled out with certainty but is discussed as less likely.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number14279
JournalScientific reports
Volume12
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 22 Aug 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 35995805
ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/160952420