Abnormal cortical mechanisms in voluntary muscle relaxation in de novo parkinsonian patients.

This study aimed at elucidating how the cortical mechanism underlying the preparation and the postmovement phase of voluntary hand muscle relaxation is affected in Parkinson's disease. Event-related mu and beta (de)synchronization (ERD/S) related to voluntary muscle contraction and relaxation were recorded in 16 untreated, akineto-rigid, predominantly hemiparkinsonian patients. The results were compared with data from 10 age-matched, healthy subjects. In the muscle relaxation task, the subject held the wrist in an extended position and then let the hand drop by voluntarily relaxing wrist extensor contraction, i.e., without any overt, associated muscle contraction. In the muscle contraction task, subjects performed a self-initiated brief wrist extension. A same pattern of ERD/S was observed in control subjects and parkinsonian patients performing the motor tasks with their less affected limb. In contrast, related to voluntary relaxation performed with the more affected limb, a delayed mu and beta ERD and a disappearance of beta ERS were revealed. These results demonstrate that the pattern of cortical oscillatory activity in a relaxation task is abnormal in parkinsonian patients. The authors suggest that this may be due to anomalous activity in inhibitory motor cortical systems and impaired sensorimotor integration of afferent inputs from muscle and joint receptors.