Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by damage to a part of the brain called the basal ganglia. Studies show that the basal ganglia are implicated in the perception of rhythms. Further, Grahn and Brett (2007) show that basal ganglia dysfunction results in an impairment in processing rhythms. Since individuals with PD have basal ganglia dysfunction, these patients often have difficulty perceiving and processing rhythms, thus, often have related symptoms such gait and walking disturbances (Jones et al., 2008). Research by Manning and Schutz (2013) shows that synchronous movement with auditory stimulation results in improvements to sensory perception (i.e., moving to a beat can improve rhythm perception). Research has already determined that dance therapy improves rhythm perception in PD patients,thus improving many symptoms such as gait and walking disturbances (Earhart, 2009). This study aims to specifically determine the temporal effects of dance classes on rhythm perception in individuals with PD. We will determine this through testing PD patients with a rhythm perception test that is synced with an electroencephalogram, both before a dance class and at several time periods post dance class. These results will provide us with knowledge about the best “dose” of dance needed to maintain the positive effects dance classes cause and will give insight into these effects from a neurological level. Learning when the positive effects of dancing wear off, we will then be able to efficiently incorporate the right dose of dance classes in to individuals with PD lives, improving their sensory perception, thus improving their symptoms and quality of life.