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Somatosensory Temporal Discrimination Threshold Is Increased in Patients with Cerebellar Atrophy

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Abstract

Processing of time in the millisecond range seems to depend on cerebellar function and it can be assessed by using the somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold testing. No studies have yet investigated this temporal discrimination task in patients with cerebellar atrophy. Eleven patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia and 11 controls underwent somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold evaluation. The degree of cerebellar dysfunction was measured by the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale. Somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold was higher in patients compared to controls for each stimulated site (hand, neck, and eye). Age, disease duration, and International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale scores were not correlated to somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold. Somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold is abnormal in patients with cerebellar atrophy. These findings suggest that the cerebellum plays a role in modulating the somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold and confirm the role of cerebellum in the processing of time in the millisecond range.

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The authors report no financial disclosures. No potential conflicts of interest exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological Sciences, University Federico II of Naples, Via Sergio Pansini, 5 - 80131, Naples, Italy

    Fiore Manganelli, Raffaele Dubbioso, Chiara Pisciotta, Antonella Antenora, Giuseppe De Michele, Alessandro Filla & Lucio Santoro

  2. Neurology Department, S. Maugeri Foundation, I.R.C.C.S., Telese Terme, Benevento, Italy

    Maria Nolano

  3. Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Alfredo Berardelli

Authors
  1. Fiore Manganelli
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  2. Raffaele Dubbioso
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  3. Chiara Pisciotta
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  4. Antonella Antenora
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  5. Maria Nolano
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  6. Giuseppe De Michele
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  7. Alessandro Filla
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  8. Alfredo Berardelli
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  9. Lucio Santoro
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Correspondence to Lucio Santoro.

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Manganelli, F., Dubbioso, R., Pisciotta, C. et al. Somatosensory Temporal Discrimination Threshold Is Increased in Patients with Cerebellar Atrophy. Cerebellum 12, 456–459 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-012-0435-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-012-0435-x

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