Relationship among perceived effort, gait asymmetry and brain activity in Parkinson's disease

• Grant number: 25/12699-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Augusto Barbieri
• Grantee: Fabio Augusto Barbieri
• Principal researcher abroad: Ricardo Augusto Barbieri
• Institution abroad: Università di Bologna , Italy
• Principal researcher abroad: Samuele Maria Marcora
• Institution abroad: Università di Bologna , Italy
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Bauru
• Associated researchers: Carlos Augusto Kalva Filho ; Daniel Boari Coelho
• Associated research grant: 22/02971-2 - Unrevealing the gait asymmetry in patients with Parkinson’s Disease: from the neural and motor mechanisms to rehabilitation: AsymmGait-Parkinson study, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

Individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit elevated levels of gait asymmetry in comparison to individuals who do not have the disease. This elevated gait asymmetry is characterized by disparities in step length and duration. This discrepancy may be attributed to altered brain activity and impaired sensorimotor integration, which can affect an individual's perception of motion and gait speed. In individuals with PD, the act of walking often results in an exacerbation of motion perception deficits. This phenomenon is accompanied by the prevalence of fatigue and mental strain, as the brain is compelled to mobilize additional cognitive resources to facilitate walking. Fatigue is a prevalent symptom that independently predicts walking difficulty, potentially due to distorted internal feedback on effort. Elevated perceived effort in PD may exert a detrimental influence on motion perception and modulate brain activity, thereby increasing gait asymmetry. However, this hypothesis remains largely theoretical due to the paucity of research exploring the interplay between perceived effort, cortical activity, and gait asymmetry in PD. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is imperative, as it may inform the development of more effective rehabilitation strategies aimed at improving gait symmetry and mobility in individuals with PD. The primary objective of the present study is to investigate the relationship among perceived effort, gait asymmetry, and brain activity in individuals with PD. This collaborative research will be conducted by Dr. Fabio A. Barbieri at São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil, in partnership with Prof. Samuele Marcora from the University of Bologna (UNIBO), Italy. The collaboration between these two expert groups will provide a unique opportunity to explore the interaction between perceived effort and brain activity, offering a new perspective on the mechanisms underlying gait asymmetry in PD and potentially proposing innovative management strategies. These activities will not only enrich the scientific scope of the ongoing project but also foster long-term collaboration between the two research groups. Furthermore, the team will conduct seminars at each participating university, engaging students and professors and fostering collaboration opportunities for other researchers. (AU)