Quantifying Motor Skills in Early-Stage Parkinson's Disease Using Human Controller Modeling

This paper investigates the potential of using a manual pursuit tracking task for quantifying loss motor skills due to Parkinson's disease (PD), by applying human controller (HC) modeling techniques. With this approach, it is possible obtain detailed quantitative data on performance in terms control gain, response delay, stiffness and damping. Pursuit was collected from seven early-stage PD patients matched group at Erasmus MC Rotterdam. Tracking significantly worse compared controls. Furthermore, showed lower gains degraded neuromuscular damping bandwidth, which indicates that associated with quick fast arm movements. While less consistent linear behavior task, their could still be modelled high accuracy. Using HC models quantify patients’ fine skill abilities may contribute improved (early) detection PD, as well monitoring symptom development intervention effectiveness.