A nonlinear mixed model analysis of variability in motor learning of patients with Parkinson's disease

Abstract

In this study, patients with mild Parkinsons disease (PD) who were regularly medicated were tested on a new motor learning task. The study examined if PD patients successfully learn a new motor learning task. Also, the study observed if PD patients show different patterns of learning compared to healthy individuals in performing a redundant task. The result demonstrated that PD patients could learn a new motor skill, but they were slow in finding the solution of the task. The patients also were not as good as normal individuals in reducing the variability of their movements.