RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 DISCRIMINATION IN DYSTONIA: TIME FOR A RETHINK?
JF Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
JO J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e4
OP e4
DO 10.1136/jnnp-2015-312379.99
VO 86
IS 11
A1 Anna Sadnicka
A1 Corinna Daum
A1 Sanjay Manohar
A1 John Rothwell
A1 Mark Edwards
YR 2015
UL http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/86/11/e4.194.abstract
AB Introduction Abnormal temporal discrimination thresholds (TDT) are thought to reflect abnormal temporal processing in dystonia. Despite widespread use of the TDT paradigm the task has been developed little since its inception; even though current paradigms may test additional factors unrelated to temporal processing.Method 22 healthy subjects and 22 subjects with cervical dystonia (CD) were tested with two novel tasks. The first task ‘gap detection’ was a forced choice version of the TDT. Complicating spatial elements of the paradigm were removed and modelling data psychophysically increased the dimensionality of analysis informing on task performance. The second task ‘interval discrimination’ tested the ability to classify the length of two successive intervals.Results Gap detection Equality of performance between groups was seen for general markers of performance such as hit rate, false positive rate and modelled psychometric function parameters. However, subjects with CD were significantly slower to make decisions. Interval discrimination No difference in the sensitivity between groups to classify differences in intervals was seen.Conclusions These results are surprising and challenge currently held concepts about the significance of previously documented abnormalities of TDTs in which a simple timing deficit is widely assumed. We hope that the ensuing discussion re-invigorates work to define the true biological correlate of TDT anomalies in dystonia as this will provide critical insight into its pathogenesis.