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ObjectiveTo determine whether sensorimotor beta-frequency oscillatory power is raised during motor preparation in patients with functional movement disorders (FMD) and could therefore be a marker of abnormal "body-focused" attention.MethodsWe analyzed motor performance and beta-frequency cortical oscillations during a precued choice reaction time (RT) task with varying cue validity (50% or 95% congruence between preparation and go cues). We compared 21 patients with FMD with 13 healthy controls (HCs).ResultsIn HCs, highly predictive cues were associated with faster RT and beta desynchronization in the contralateral hemisphere (contralateral slope -0.045 [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.057 to -0.033] vs ipsilateral -0.033 [95% CI -0.046 to -0.021], p < 0.001) and with a tendency for reaching lower contralateral end-of-preparation beta power (contralateral -0.482 [95% CI -0.827 to -0.137] vs ipsilateral -0.328 [95% CI -0.673 to 0.016], p = 0.069). In contrast, patients with FMD had no improvement in RTs with highly predictive cues and showed an impairment of beta desynchronization and lateralization before movement.ConclusionsPersistent beta synchronization during motor preparation could reflect abnormal explicit control of movement in FMD. Excessive attention to movement itself rather than the goal might maintain beta synchronization and impair performance.

Introduction: Advances have been made in understanding the aetiology of functional neurological disorder (FND); however, its pathophysiological mechanisms have not been definitively demonstrated. Evidence suggests interacting roles for altered emotional processing and interoception, elevated autonomic arousal, and dissociation, but there is limited evidence demonstrating their causal influence on specific FND symptoms. Our superordinate aim is to elucidate potentially shared and distinct aetiological factors and mechanisms in two common FND subtypes, functional seizures (FS) and functional motor symptoms (FMS). Methods: This study has a multimodal, mixed between- and within-groups design. The target sample is 50 individuals with FS, 50 with FMS, 50 clinical controls (anxiety/depression), and 50 healthy controls. Potential aetiological factors (e.g., adverse life events, physical/mental health symptoms, dissociative tendencies, interoceptive insight/sensibility) will be assessed with a detailed medical history interview and self-report questionnaires. A laboratory session will include a neurocognitive battery, psychophysiological testing, cardiac interoception and time estimation tasks and an isometric handgrip task. A subsample will undergo magnetic resonance imaging, including structural, resting-state and task-based scans combined with psychophysiological recording. Remote monitoring with ecological momentary assessment and wearables will measure variability in FND symptoms and their potential predictors/correlates for ≥2 weeks in patients' daily lives. Longitudinal follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12-months will monitor longer-term outcomes in the clinical groups. Discussion: This study employs multimodal research methods to rigorously examine several putative mechanisms in FND, at subjective/experiential, behavioural, and physiological levels. The study will test causal hypotheses about the role of altered emotional processing, autonomic arousal, dissociation and interoception in the initiation or exacerbation of FND symptoms, directly comparing these processes in FS and FMS to healthy and clinical controls. This is the first study of its kind, with potential to reveal important targets for prevention and treatment of FND in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The demonstration of positive signs during neurological examination is a cornerstone of the diagnosis of functional movement disorders, however, the available data supporting the diagnostic value of some of these signs is limited. Objectives: To determine the diagnostic value (sensitivity and specificity) of the "whack‐a‐mole" (WAM) and "swivel chair" (SC) tests in patients with functional movement disorders (FMD). Methods: We enrolled patients with functional and organic movements in the WAM test if they exhibited tremor, dystonia, myoclonus, chorea, or tics. For the SC test, patients with a gait disorder as their primary impairment were recruited. Two blinded movement disorder specialists rated the presence of these signs in edited videos. Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 42 patients with FMD and 65 patients with organic movement disorders. Both tests demonstrated high specificity (means, 78% and 96%), but their sensitivity was low (means, 52% and 37%). Interobserver agreement for the WAM sign was 0.77 in the FMD group, against 0.28 in patients with organic movement disorders, whereas Movement Disorders Clinical Practice for Review Only for the SC sign was 0.69 in both groups. Conclusions: The present study indicates that physicians must be cautious in the application and interpretation of these clinical signs in the diagnosis of functional movement disorders, and they should be carefully considered and used as necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]