Samuel Stuart1, Georgeann Booth, Martina Mancini2
18:15 - 20:15 | Mon 5 Mar | Caribbean ABC | MoPO.37
This pilot study evaluated the effect of tactile biofeedback (closed-loop tactile cueing) on pre-frontal cortex (PFC) activity during turning in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). PFC activity during walking and turning was recorded in nine people with PD while "OFF" medication using a mobile functional near infra-red spectroscopy (fNIRS) device. Participants walked and made a turn (180° or 360°) with and without biofeedback. Turns were analyzed using body worn inertial sensors. The primary outcomes were change in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2: a proxy for cortical activation) and turning metrics (duration and velocity). Results showed that biofeedback influenced cortical activity when turning in PD, with reduction in activation during 360º turns. These preliminary results demonstrate that biofeedback reduced PFC activation during sharp turns in PD, which may indicate improved movement automaticity.