The motor performance of patients with Parkinson's disease is degraded
, but it is unclear whether their motor learning (adaptation learning
and skill learning) ability is impaired. To assess the ability of thes
e patients to learn motor tasks, we studied nine Parkinson's disease p
atients and eight age-matched normal (control) subjects who repetitive
ly traced, as rapidly and accurately as possible, irregular geometric
patterns with normal and mirror-reversed vision. The outcome was measu
red by statistical analysis and graphic plotting of values for actual
and standardized performance variables and correlation of data from in
itial and final performance variables with indicators of disease sever
ity. The results showed that, with normal vision, total movement time
was reduced in both patients and normal subjects, but movement errors
increased with repetition, apparently reflecting a speed-accuracy trad
e-off and adaptation learning. With mirror-reversed vision, total move
ment time and movement errors were reduced equally with repetition in
both groups. These concomitant improvements in time and accuracy viola
te the rule of speed-accuracy trade-off and suggest that this behavior
reflects true motor skill learning. We conclude that patients with Pa
rkinson's disease do not differ from normal subjects in the processes
of motor adaptation and motor skill learning.