![]() Commencement of 7.5 mg daily dose of aripiprazole also had no effect on the involuntary vocalizations, but led to impulsive behaviors and increased fall frequency. Similarly, discontinuation of quetiapine over several months did not lead to any changes in involuntary groaning behavior. For example, discontinuation of all dopaminergic medication over a period of four weeks led to deterioration of parkinsonism, without changes in groaning frequency or intensity. There was no association of the involuntary groaning behavior with attempted changes in medication. At the time of presentation, the patient was treated daily with 300/75 mg levodopa/carbidopa, 4mg rotigotine, 200 mg amantadine, 75 mg quetiapine, and 20 mg citalopram. Distracting the patient from the effortful inhibitory process led to reemergence of the involuntary sounds. Importantly, although the patient reported that the sound was generated involuntarily, he was able to selectively suppress the involuntary groaning employing, for example, breathing techniques (Video S1, segment B). However, the most striking feature was the groaning behavior. ![]() On current examination, the patient presented with parkinsonism, vertical gaze palsy, impaired postural reflexes, and a dysexecutive syndrome, consistent with the diagnosis of PSP‐RS (PSP Rating Scale score 44 Video S1, segment A). The groaning behavior, which was constantly present and only abated during deep sleep, was distressing, particularly for the patient's family. The phenomenological classification and pathophysiological implications of the involuntary groaning behavior are discussed.Ī 66‐year‐old male, who had been diagnosed with PSP four years earlier, presented to our department due to constant groaning, which had insidiously developed over the course of several weeks. Attempts to distract attention from the active inhibitory process led to reemergence of the groaning behavior. 1 Here, we report the case of a 66‐year‐old male with PSP‐Richardson syndrome (PSP‐RS) who presented with constant involuntary groaning that, at times, he could voluntarily suppress. Constant grunting and groaning are involuntary and uncontrollable vocalizations, typical for several types of dementia, and have also been associated with advanced progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). They range from simple and brief sounds (e.g., throat clearing, lip smacking, or grunting) to complex and socially inappropriate obscenities such as coprolalia. Just because we do not understand the wonderful variety of sounds that dogs vocalize does not mean that dogs are not doing their best to communicate with us.Involuntary vocalizations are a striking feature of several neurological conditions, often associated with movement disorders. A dog howling by itself is communicating, “I want my pack.” Such a howl is often contagious.ĭogs make sounds both intentionally and unintentionally, and they all have certain meanings. Howling in dogs seems to be a behavior similar to that in wolves. The quintessential communication of affiliation is the howl. When researchers played different types of recorded growls over a speaker in front of a desirable bone, dogs avoided the bone in the presence of warning growls but grabbed it in the presence of play-growls. Such growls are noisy and medium-pitched, with no low rumbling (like that heard in warning growls) and no signs of teeth.Ĭompared to people, dogs have a much clearer understanding of the difference between play-growls and threatening growls. Similarly, there are growls that are not used as warnings or threats but are used to communicate play. ![]() ![]() The difference is that a whine used to communicate distress rises in pitch toward the end of the sound, whereas a whine communicating excitement either drops in pitch toward the end of the sound or does not change in pitch. When the sigh is combined with half-closed eyes, it communicates pleasure with fully open eyes, it communicates disappointment: “I guess you are not going to play with me.”Īlthough considered signs of distress, whines can also be used to communicate happiness and excitement. Another sound of contentment is the sigh, usually accompanied by the dog lying down with its head on its forepaws. Puppies moan when they are in close contact to their littermates, their mother, or their humans. ![]() Low-pitched moans are very common in puppies and are signs of contentment. The most common sounds of pleasure are moans and sighs, although dogs also use whines and growls to communicate happiness. Dogs communicate pleasure, happiness, excitement, and affiliation through their vocalizations. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |