Cerebellar hypermetria is larger when the inertial load is artificially increased

Ann Neurol. 1994 Jan;35(1):45-52. doi: 10.1002/ana.410350108.

Abstract

Hypermetria is a classical cerebellar symptom designating the overshoot observed when a patient is asked to make a very fast and accurate movement. The movement studied here was wrist flexion. Hypermetria was found to be increased by artificially increasing the inertia of the moving hand. A normal subject adapted himself to increasing inertia by increasing both his agonist activity (the launching force) and its antagonist activity (the braking force). In the same circumstances, a patient with symptoms of cerebellar system dysfunction was found to be able to increase his agonist activity but not his antagonist activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acceleration
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cerebellar Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Hand / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Movement / physiology*