Abstract
Objectives: Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that impaired time perception and the neural circuitry contributing to internal timing mechanisms may contribute to severe psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders. The structures that are involved in subsecond timing, i.e., cerebellum and basal ganglia, have also been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. However, the timing of subsecond intervals has infrequently been studied in this population. Methods: Paced finger-tapping tasks have been used to characterize internal timing processes in neuropsychiatric disorders. A total of 42 bipolar disorder patients (25 euthymic, 17 manic) and 42 age-matched healthy controls completed a finger-tapping task in which they tapped in time with a paced (500-ms intertap interval) auditory stimulus (synchronization), then continued tapping without auditory input while attempting to maintain the same pace (continuation). This procedure was followed using the dominant index finger, then with alternating thumbs. Results: Bipolar disorder participants showed greater timing variability relative to controls regardless of pacing stimulus (synchronization versus continuation) or condition (dominant index finger versus alternating thumbs). Decomposition of timing variance into internal clock versus motor implementation components using the Wing-Kristofferson model showed higher clock variability in the bipolar disorder groups compared to controls, with no differences between groups on motor implementation variability. Conclusions: These findings suggest that internal timing mechanisms are disrupted in bipolar disorder patients, independent of symptom status. Increased clock variability in bipolar disorder may be related to abnormalities in cerebellar function.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 99-110 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Bipolar Disorders |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2011 |
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Keywords
- Bipolar disorder
- Cerebellum
- Depression
- Finger tapping
- Interval
- Mania
- Temporal
- Timing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
Cite this
Paced finger-tapping abnormalities in bipolar disorder indicate timing dysfunction. / Bolbecker, Amanda R.; Hong, S. Lee; Kent, Jerillyn S.; Forsyth, Jennifer K.; Klaunig, Mallory J.; Lazar, Emily K.; O'Donnell, Brian; Hetrick, William P.
In: Bipolar Disorders, Vol. 13, No. 1, 02.2011, p. 99-110.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Paced finger-tapping abnormalities in bipolar disorder indicate timing dysfunction
AU - Bolbecker, Amanda R.
AU - Hong, S. Lee
AU - Kent, Jerillyn S.
AU - Forsyth, Jennifer K.
AU - Klaunig, Mallory J.
AU - Lazar, Emily K.
AU - O'Donnell, Brian
AU - Hetrick, William P.
PY - 2011/2
Y1 - 2011/2
N2 - Objectives: Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that impaired time perception and the neural circuitry contributing to internal timing mechanisms may contribute to severe psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders. The structures that are involved in subsecond timing, i.e., cerebellum and basal ganglia, have also been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. However, the timing of subsecond intervals has infrequently been studied in this population. Methods: Paced finger-tapping tasks have been used to characterize internal timing processes in neuropsychiatric disorders. A total of 42 bipolar disorder patients (25 euthymic, 17 manic) and 42 age-matched healthy controls completed a finger-tapping task in which they tapped in time with a paced (500-ms intertap interval) auditory stimulus (synchronization), then continued tapping without auditory input while attempting to maintain the same pace (continuation). This procedure was followed using the dominant index finger, then with alternating thumbs. Results: Bipolar disorder participants showed greater timing variability relative to controls regardless of pacing stimulus (synchronization versus continuation) or condition (dominant index finger versus alternating thumbs). Decomposition of timing variance into internal clock versus motor implementation components using the Wing-Kristofferson model showed higher clock variability in the bipolar disorder groups compared to controls, with no differences between groups on motor implementation variability. Conclusions: These findings suggest that internal timing mechanisms are disrupted in bipolar disorder patients, independent of symptom status. Increased clock variability in bipolar disorder may be related to abnormalities in cerebellar function.
AB - Objectives: Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that impaired time perception and the neural circuitry contributing to internal timing mechanisms may contribute to severe psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders. The structures that are involved in subsecond timing, i.e., cerebellum and basal ganglia, have also been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. However, the timing of subsecond intervals has infrequently been studied in this population. Methods: Paced finger-tapping tasks have been used to characterize internal timing processes in neuropsychiatric disorders. A total of 42 bipolar disorder patients (25 euthymic, 17 manic) and 42 age-matched healthy controls completed a finger-tapping task in which they tapped in time with a paced (500-ms intertap interval) auditory stimulus (synchronization), then continued tapping without auditory input while attempting to maintain the same pace (continuation). This procedure was followed using the dominant index finger, then with alternating thumbs. Results: Bipolar disorder participants showed greater timing variability relative to controls regardless of pacing stimulus (synchronization versus continuation) or condition (dominant index finger versus alternating thumbs). Decomposition of timing variance into internal clock versus motor implementation components using the Wing-Kristofferson model showed higher clock variability in the bipolar disorder groups compared to controls, with no differences between groups on motor implementation variability. Conclusions: These findings suggest that internal timing mechanisms are disrupted in bipolar disorder patients, independent of symptom status. Increased clock variability in bipolar disorder may be related to abnormalities in cerebellar function.
KW - Bipolar disorder
KW - Cerebellum
KW - Depression
KW - Finger tapping
KW - Interval
KW - Mania
KW - Temporal
KW - Timing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79951486651&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79951486651&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2011.00895.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2011.00895.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21320257
AN - SCOPUS:79951486651
VL - 13
SP - 99
EP - 110
JO - Bipolar Disorders
JF - Bipolar Disorders
SN - 1398-5647
IS - 1
ER -