Trace eyeblink conditioning in patients with cerebellar degeneration: comparison of short and long trace intervals.
Exp Brain Res
; 187(1): 85-96, 2008 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18253726
ABSTRACT
To elucidate whether the cerebellar cortex may contribute to trace eyeblink conditioning in humans, eight patients with degenerative cerebellar disorders (four with sporadic adult onset ataxia, three with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type III and one with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6) and eight age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were investigated. Individual high resolution three-dimensional MRI data sets were acquired. As revealed by volumetric measurements of the cerebellum using ECCET software, patients showed cerebellar atrophy to various degrees. No abnormalities were observed in the control subjects. Eyeblink conditioning was performed twice using a tone of 40 ms as conditioned stimulus, followed by a short (400 ms) and a long (1,000 ms) trace interval and an air-puff of 100 ms as unconditioned stimulus. Using the short trace interval, eyeblink conditioning was significantly impaired in cerebellar patients compared to controls, even in those who fulfilled criteria of awareness. Using the long trace interval no significant group differences could be observed. The present findings of impaired trace eyeblink acquisition in patients with cortical cerebellar degeneration suggest that the cerebellar cortex in humans, in addition to the interposed nucleus, is involved in trace eyeblink conditioning, if the trace interval is relatively short. Using a long trace interval, the cerebellum appears to be less important.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Doenças Cerebelares
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Cerebelo
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Reflexo Anormal
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Condicionamento Palpebral
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Exp Brain Res
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Alemanha