Objective: This study compared the prefrontal cortex activity and interlimb coordination between PD persons and neurotypical individuals after receiving instructions to increase arm swing amplitude and frequency during walking.

Background: Persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD) can change gait parameters by following instructions to increase arm swing, however, there is no established knowledge on its effects on interlimb coordination and prefrontal cortex involvement when the attentional focus is directed to upper limb behavior.

Method: Fifteen persons with PD and 13 neurotypical older persons were instructed to walk over a 26.8 m pathway under three experimental conditions: usual walking, walking with increased arm swing amplitude, and walking with increased arm swing frequency. Variables included in this study were gait parameters, continuous relative phase and latency between arm and leg movements, and prefrontal cortex activity.

Results: ANOVA two-way (groups x conditions) showed the instructions to increase arm swing amplitude and frequency during walking improved gait parameters and interlimb coordination (increasing continuous relative phase and decreasing its variability and latency), without changing prefrontal cortex activity.

Conclusion: Engagement of the motor areas to follow the instructions and perform the ensuing action could be related to preservation of some automaticity and it is possible the individuals do not need to use the resources of their cognitive reserve.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/arm-swing-instructions-alter-interlimb-coordination-but-not-prefrontal-cortex-activity-of-parkinsons-disease-persons/