Exploring dynamic alpha band connectivity in Parkinson’s disease: A novel approach to postural control assessment using the BioVRSea paradigm

Exploring dynamic alpha band connectivity in Parkinson’s disease: A novel approach to postural control assessment using the BioVRSea paradigm | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Exploring dynamic alpha band connectivity in Parkinson’s disease: A novel approach to postural control assessment using the BioVRSea paradigm Federica Pescaglia, Lorena Guerrini, Carmine Gelormini, Romain Aubonnet, and 6 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6752162/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 02 Feb, 2026 Read the published version in Brain Topography → Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Purpose: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurological disorder characterized by impaired postural control (PC) and balance issues. To date, few studies have explored the relationship between brain activity and responses during specific tasks designed to challenge balance in individuals with PD.Our exploratory research employs an innovative paradigm to assess PC by integrating virtual reality (VR) and electroencephalography (EEG). Methods: In the study, 20 individuals diagnosed with PD who self-reported postural instability participated in the BioVRSea paradigm. This paradigm tested their PC using visuomotor stimuli and collected EEG signals to assess brain responses throughout the experiment. The results of the Parkinson's group were compared with those of 22 age-matched healthy controls (CTR).From functional connectivity between brain regions, we employed novel techniques that use clustering algorithms to identify brain network states (BNSs). These BNSs define brain dynamics and can be compared with resting-state networks (RSNs) to further explore and identify neural alterations in individuals with PD. Results: Six distinct BNSs were identified, with the dorsal attention network (DAN) dominant in five states. A significant reduction in the occurrence of BNS2 (p=0.005) was observed in PD patients during the PRE movement and visuomotor (MOV) phases compared to CTR. This reduced occurrence of BNS2 suggests impaired visuomotor integration in PD patients during PC tasks. DAN dominance highlights its crucial role in maintaining attentional control during the task. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the potential of using brain dynamics as a biomarker of neural dysfunction in PD, especially during specific PC tasks. Altered BNSs, particularly in networks associated with attention and sensorimotor integration, reveal key neural deficits related to PD. Postural Control Electroencephalography Parkinson's Disease Brain Network States Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 02 Feb, 2026 Read the published version in Brain Topography → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 05 Oct, 2025 Reviews received at journal 10 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 11 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 27 May, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 27 May, 2025 First submitted to journal 26 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6752162","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":484734576,"identity":"988c45a0-a23f-487f-9fc2-fac90736f91e","order_by":0,"name":"Federica Pescaglia","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Reykjavik University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Federica","middleName":"","lastName":"Pescaglia","suffix":""},{"id":484734577,"identity":"0f6a4d09-60aa-4ed6-9088-2e7739c0f37b","order_by":1,"name":"Lorena Guerrini","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Reykjavik 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To date, few studies have explored the relationship between brain activity and responses during specific tasks designed to challenge balance in individuals with PD.Our exploratory research employs an innovative paradigm to assess PC by integrating virtual reality (VR) and electroencephalography (EEG). \u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the study, 20 individuals diagnosed with PD who self-reported postural instability participated in the BioVRSea paradigm. This paradigm tested their PC using visuomotor stimuli and collected EEG signals to assess brain responses throughout the experiment. The results of the Parkinson's group were compared with those of 22 age-matched healthy controls (CTR).From functional connectivity between brain regions, we employed novel techniques that use clustering algorithms to identify brain network states (BNSs). These BNSs define brain dynamics and can be compared with resting-state networks (RSNs) to further explore and identify neural alterations in individuals with PD.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSix distinct BNSs were identified, with the dorsal attention network (DAN) dominant in five states. A significant reduction in the occurrence of BNS2 (p=0.005) was observed in PD patients during the PRE movement and visuomotor (MOV) phases compared to CTR. This reduced occurrence of BNS2 suggests impaired visuomotor integration in PD patients during PC tasks. DAN dominance highlights its crucial role in maintaining attentional control during the task.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe findings of this study highlight the potential of using brain dynamics as a biomarker of neural dysfunction in PD, especially during specific PC tasks. Altered BNSs, particularly in networks associated with attention and sensorimotor integration, reveal key neural deficits related to PD.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Exploring dynamic alpha band connectivity in Parkinson’s disease: A novel approach to postural control assessment using the BioVRSea paradigm","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-07-15 05:12:19","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6752162/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-10-05T10:29:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-11T00:17:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"174526809307687168734908996317921524964","date":"2025-07-12T08:00:04+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-07-11T14:09:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-05-27T11:17:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-05-27T04:32:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Brain Topography","date":"2025-05-26T15:11:22+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"brain-topography","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"btop","sideBox":"Learn more about [Brain Topography](http://link.springer.com/journal/10548)","snPcode":"10548","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10548/3","title":"Brain Topography","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"a74b2795-5810-4775-8307-871b65702ba0","owner":[],"postedDate":"July 15th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-09T16:08:25+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6752162","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-025-01170-7","journal":{"identity":"brain-topography","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Brain Topography"},"publishedOn":"2026-02-02 15:57:27","publishedOnDateReadable":"February 2nd, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-07-15 05:12:19","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s10548-025-01170-7","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-025-01170-7","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6752162","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6752162","identity":"rs-6752162","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}