Working memory in medicated patients with Parkinson's disease: the central executive seems to work. Issue 3 (March 1996)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fournet, N; Moreaud, O; Roulin, J L; Naegele, B; Pellat, J
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 60:Issue 3(1996)
• Page Start: 313
• Page End: 317
• Publication Date: 1996-03
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.60.3.313
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : OBJECTIVE--To determine whether a deficit of the central executive can explain the attentional deficits of patients with Parkinson's disease. METHODS--Fifteen patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and 15 controls were given a dual task paradigm minimising motor demands and combining verbal, visual, or spatial span with two conditions of articulatory suppression. RESULTS--Although the spans were systematically lower in medicated parkinsonian patients than in controls, suggesting a decrease of central processing resources, there was no direct evidence for a deficit of the central executive. CONCLUSIONS--A deficit of the central executive either is not an inevitable feature of the disease, or is dependent on the nature of task (visuomotor v cognitive), or is corrected by dopaminergic medication.