Deterioro del aprendizaje visoespacial en la enfermedad de Parkinson / Visuospatial learning impairment in Parkinson Disease

A pesar del hecho de que en la Enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) se han encontrado alteraciones en diferentes procesos mnésicos, la capacidad de aprendizaje espacial es aún un aspecto poco estudiado. Nuestro objetivo es estudiar el estado de la capacidad de aprendizaje visoespacial y verbal en una muestra de pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson, sin demencia, en estadio leve-moderado, y analizar la posible influencia de la velocidad de procesamiento, funciones atencionales, memoria de trabajo y percepción visoespacial. Los pacientes (N= 20) rindieron significativamente peor que los controles (N= 20) en Localización Espacial, Juicio de Orientación de Líneas (JOLT) y 8/30 SRT. No se observaron diferencias en el resto de funciones evaluadas. El análisis de regresión mostró que el rendimiento en Localización Espacial y el JOLT explican un 58,2% de la varianza de la curva de aprendizaje visoespacial. Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto una alteración temprana en la EP de la percepción y memoria de trabajo visoespacial y, debido en gran medida a estas alteraciones primarias, un déficit de aprendizaje espacial. Estos resultados sugieren una amplia afectación de los procesos visoespaciales, explicable por la disfunción de los circuitos córtico-estriatales que implican tanto al córtex prefrontal como al córtex parietal posterior (AU)

Despite the fact that different mnesic processes have been found to be impaired in Parkinson’s disease, spatial learning is still an unstudied aspect. The aims of the present study were to evaluate visuospatial and verbal learning in nondemented patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) (N= 20), and to assess the influence of processing speed, attention, working memory, and visuospatial perception. Compared to controls (N= 20), PD patients had a poorer performance on Spatial Span, Judgment Line Orientation Test (JLOT), and 8/30 SRT. No differences were found between patients and controls in other functions assessed. Regression analysis showed that performance on Spatial Span and JOLT explains 58.2% of the variance of total spatial learning. Our results suggest an early impairment of spatial working memory and visuospatial perception in patients with PD. The visuospatial learning impairment may result from a primary deficit in these functions. These results suggest a global affectation of visuospatial processes, which may arise from dysfunction of the cortico-striatal circuits that include prefrontal and posterior parietal cortex (AU)

[Visuospatial learning impairment in Parkinson Disease]. / Deterioro del aprendizaje visoespacial en la enfermedad de Parkinson.

Visuospatial learning impairment in Parkinson Disease. Despite the fact that different mnesic processes have been found to be impaired in Parkinson's disease, spatial learning is still an unstudied aspect. The aims of the present study were to evaluate visuospatial and verbal learning in nondemented patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) (N= 20), and to assess the influence of processing speed, attention, working memory, and visuospatial perception. Compared to controls (N= 20), PD patients had a poorer performance on Spatial Span, Judgment Line Orientation Test (JLOT), and 8/30 SRT. No differences were found between patients and controls in other functions assessed. Regression analysis showed that performance on Spatial Span and JOLT explains 58.2% of the variance of total spatial learning. Our results suggest an early impairment of spatial working memory and visuospatial perception in patients with PD. The visuospatial learning impairment may result from a primary deficit in these functions. These results suggest a global affectation of visuospatial processes, which may arise from dysfunction of the cortico-striatal circuits that include prefrontal and posterior parietal cortex.