Effects of Rhythmic Auditory Cueing on Stepping in Place in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

The stepping-in-place exercise includes 10-session training. In each session, subjects are asked for stepping for 50 steps. In auditory cued condition, the cued frequency is set at 110% of the usual walking cadence. While in non-cued condition, we ask the subjects to step according to their own internal rhythm.

TMS is used to assess the cortical excitability of the motor cortex. The stimulation intensity is set at 130% of the motor threshold in single-pulse condition. In paired-pulse condition, the first stimulus is set at 80% of the motor threshold and the second stimulus is set at 130% of the motor threshold.