The basal ganglia (BG) are involved in establishing motor plans for a wide range of behaviors. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a manifestation of basal ganglia dysfunction associated with a deficit in sensorimotor integration and difficulty in acquiring new motor sequences, thereby affecting motor learning. Previous studies of sensorimotor integration and sensorimotor adaptation (SA) in PD have focused on limb movements using visual and force-field alterations.^1–4

Here we report the results from a SA experiment investigating the ability of PD patients to make speech motor adjustments to a constant and predictable auditory feedback manipulation. Participants produced speech while their auditory feedback was altered and maintained in a manner consistent with a change in tongue position. The degree of adaptation was associated with the severity of motor symptoms.

The PD patients exhibited adaptation to the induced sensory error, however the degree of adaptation was reduced compared to healthy age-matched control participants.

The reduced capacity to adapt to a change in auditory feedback is consistent with reduced gain in the sensorimotor system for speech and with previous studies demonstrating limitations in the adaptation of limb movements following changes in visual feedback in PD patients.