biostudies-literatureUnknown39(10)Vitorio RBackgroundInternal and external cueing strategies are often applied to alleviate gait deficits in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, it remains unclear which type of cueing strategy is most effective at different disease stages. The underlying neural mechanisms of response to cueing are also unknown.ObjectiveTo investigate the immediate response of multiple brain cortical regions and gait to internal and external cueing in people at different stages of PD.MethodsPeople with PD (n = 80) were split into groups dependent on their disease stage (Hoehn and Yahr [H&Y] stage I to III). Participants performed a baseline walk without cues followed by randomized cued walking conditions (internal and external [visual, auditory and tactile] cues). A combined functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRNeurorehabilitation and neural repair826-838https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12476477biostudies-literatureEffects of Internal and External Cues on Brain Activity and Gait in Parkinson's Disease: Findings From BARC-PD.PMC12476477Morris RVitorio RStuart SMancini MWalker RDas JGraham LMcDonald CfalseEffects of Internal and External Cues on Brain Activity and Gait in Parkinson's Disease: Findings From BARC-PD.BackgroundInternal and external cueing strategies are often applied to alleviate gait deficits in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, it remains unclear which type of cueing strategy is most effective at different disease stages. The underlying neural mechanisms of response to cueing are also unknown.ObjectiveTo investigate the immediate response of multiple brain cortical regions and gait to internal and external cueing in people at different stages of PD.MethodsPeople with PD (n = 80) were split into groups dependent on their disease stage (Hoehn and Yahr [H&Y] stage I to III). Participants performed a baseline walk without cues followed by randomized cued walking conditions (internal and external [visual, auditory and tactile] cues). A combined functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Oct2026-06-04T00:10:13.816Z2026-05-03T03:12:32.75ZS-EPMC124764774065235510.1177/15459683251351876