Long-Duration Response to Levodopa, Motor Learning, and Neuroplasticity in Early Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Long-duration response (LDR) to levodopa and motor learning could be involved in changes in neuroplasticity of cortical excitability in Parkinson's disease (PD). P300, motor evoked potentials (MEPs), and Bereitschaftspotential (BP) are neurophysiological surrogate markers of neuroplasticity.

Objective: We aimed to define in PD the effects of LDR and motor learning on neurophysiological parameters involved in neuroplasticity.

Asymmetry index of Blink Reflex Recovery Cycle differentiates Parkinson's disease from atypical Parkinsonian syndromes.

Background: Differential diagnosis between Parkinson's disease (PD) and atypical Parkinsonian syndromes (APS), such as multiple system atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), is often difficult because of overlap of common clinical features. We evaluated R2 Blink Reflex Recovery Cycle (R2BRRC) in drug-naive PD patients and in MSA and PSP patients to differentiate early PD from APS.

Methods: We investigated 43 patients: 15 drug-naive PD patients, 16 MSA patients, and 12 PSP patients.