Studies of tone, tremor, and speech in normal persons and parkinsonian patients

Abstract

Highly sensitive equipment for a study of muscle tone and tremor and the component factors of speech is described. A strain gauge tonometer is used to measure the dyne-centimeters of torque produced by the movement of the upper limb through a constant arc and a reluctance accelerometer connected to a direct writing oscillograph records tremor. Phonetics, artidilatory rates, pitch, intensity ranges and basic anatomy and physiology of the respiratory mechanism are evaluated. This comprehensive study is being made in 30 patients with clinical parkinsonism and in 30 adult controls so as to gain knowledge of the fundamental neuro-pathophysiological aspects of the disease. A detailed presentation and interpretation of existing changes will appear in future reports.