[Analysis of movement in extrapyramidal motor diseases using a computer].

Normals are able to move their limbs in a continuous spectrum of speeds. In contrast patients with so called extrapyramidal disorders show typical changes of movement. Short ballistic movements of the upper limb were analysed by a joystick connected with a computer in 57 patients with different extrapyramidal disorders (parkinsonsyndrome, essential tremor, torsion dystonia, chorea and intention tremor) and in 22 normals. Patients with parkinsonsyndrome and with torsion dystonia move the upper limb slower than normals and all other patients. Their movements show breaks. All patients execute aimed movements less precisely than normals. Most unprecise are the movements of patients with essential tremor. Oscillation of movements of all patients deminish, but less than in normals. Patients with parkinsonsyndrome show smallest oscillations at the beginning of each movement. Patients with intention tremor differ not from normals at the beginning, but show still the highest oscillations at the end of movement. Holding the target they correct most frequent. We discuss, that striatum generates timing and strength of ballistic movement and cerebellum apeases oscillation of movement and frequency of correcting while holding a target.