Computational markers of rhythmic timing in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease is linked to reduced sensorimotor synchronization accuracy and stability in finger-tapping across four steady tempi, with larger absolute asynchronies and higher asynchrony variability.

• Why it matters: The study addresses which cognitive-computational mechanisms drive rhythmic timing deficits in Parkinson’s disease, where temporal processing is impaired but underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
• What they did: Using the Adaptation and Anticipation Model (ADAM) on synchronized finger-tapping data from 35 participants with PD and 28 controls, the authors estimated phase correction, period correction, and noise parameters across four steady tempi.
• The result: ADAM showed lower phase correction (coupling strength) and higher central timekeeper noise in PD, while period correction and peripheral motor noise showed no robust group differences; timekeeper noise predicted accuracy, and stability predictors differed by group.