Auditory-motor Coupling in Multiple Sclerosis With Cerebellar Lesions

Effect of Motor Entrainment to Auditory Cues and Music During Walking on Quality of Movement and Percieved Fatigue in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis With Cerebellar Lesions

This study is a case-control observational study, involving persons with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls. The study contains 1 descriptive and 4 experimental sessions. In the descriptive session, participant's clinical motor and cognitive functions are collected. In the first experimental session, participant's beat perception and synchronisation abilities is examined within a finger tapping paradigm. In the following experimental sessions participants synchronsiation abilities is examined during walking paradigms, to music and metronomes, at different tempi and alignment strategies. In the latter three sessions, apart from outcome measures of synchronization the following will be collected as well: spatio-temporal gait parameters, perceived fatigue, perceived motivation and perceived speed of walking.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of Multiple sclerosis >1 year,
• type of lesions: cerebellar lesions,
• walking speed 0.8-1.2m/s, ability to walk for 6 minutes continuously (canes and rollators are permitted).

Exclusion Criteria:

• relapse 3 months prior to enrollment,
• cognitive impairment impeding understanding of instructions,
• beat amusia,
• deafness,
• pregnancy