Proposal for using time estimation training for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Studies have shown an association between time perception and the basal ganglia and cortical areas, suggesting a role for these regions in the perception of seconds, minutes, and hours. We present the hypothesis that time estimation training tasks may change the modulatory activity of dopamine in the basal ganglia and the cortical areas related to temporal perception. Through this mechanism, the estimated training time interval can promote a compensatory effect on motor and cognitive performance via a dynamic neural adaptation process. We believe that the training will develop a competition between neural pathways involved in the process of time perception, positively affecting the brain pathways related to Parkinson's disease, and thereby minimizing the cognitive and motor deficits caused by the disease.

Keywords: Neurological rehabilitation; Parkinson’s disease; Time perception.