Enhancing motor performance in the healthy and Parkinsonian brain: adaptation, oscillations, and electrical stimulation

<p>Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by debilitating impairments in motor control arising from pathophysiological alterations in basal ganglia circuitry and function. In this research thesis two main approaches, namely electrical recording and stimulation, are combined in order to...

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Main Author: Joundi, RA
Other Authors: Jenkinson, N
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
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author Joundi, RA
author2 Jenkinson, N
author_facet Jenkinson, N
Joundi, RA
author_sort Joundi, RA
collection OXFORD
description <p>Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by debilitating impairments in motor control arising from pathophysiological alterations in basal ganglia circuitry and function. In this research thesis two main approaches, namely electrical recording and stimulation, are combined in order to better understand motor performance in Parkinson's disease and ways it might be improved. Three main types of motor behaviors are studied: discrete ballistic movement, repetitive movement, and motor adaptation.</p> <p><ul><li>First, deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) was shown to improve the velocity of discrete, ballistic movements in PD. The neural correlates of ballistic movements were then studied by recording from the STN of PD patients, revealing onset of beta-range desynchronization prior to, and gamma-range frequency synchronization during, performance of fast arm reaches. To determine a causal role for these oscillatory frequencies in motor behavior, the motor cortex of healthy humans was stimulated at either beta or gamma frequency during a 'go/no-go' grip force task. Beta stimulation resulted in slower force generation on 'go' trials but enhanced inhibition during 'no-go' trials, whereas gamma stimulation resulted in faster force generation on 'go' trials.</li> <li>Second, STN DBS resulted in improved repetitive tapping performance in PD patients through a reduction in variability. Recordings from the STN demonstrated that repetitive movement was accompanied by a substantial and persistent suppression of beta oscillatory activity.</li> <li>Third, Parkinson's patients were tested on a motor adaptation task, revealing intact learning but impaired retention of a visuomotor rotation. Application of direct current stimulation of the motor cortex resulted in enhanced adaptation during both learning and retention in PD patients and healthy controls.</li> <li>These results causally implicate the basal ganglia and oscillatory activity in motor control, provide insight into the neuronal mechanisms of motor performance and adaptation, and demonstrate promising new avenues for enhancing motor control in Parkinson's disease.</li></ul></p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:b51fae7a-56ec-4a21-8512-bd9ff8410ce12024-06-20T13:46:39ZEnhancing motor performance in the healthy and Parkinsonian brain: adaptation, oscillations, and electrical stimulationThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:b51fae7a-56ec-4a21-8512-bd9ff8410ce1NeuroscienceEnglishOxford University Research Archive - Valet2012Joundi, RAJenkinson, NBrown, PAziz, TZ<p>Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by debilitating impairments in motor control arising from pathophysiological alterations in basal ganglia circuitry and function. In this research thesis two main approaches, namely electrical recording and stimulation, are combined in order to better understand motor performance in Parkinson's disease and ways it might be improved. Three main types of motor behaviors are studied: discrete ballistic movement, repetitive movement, and motor adaptation.</p> <p><ul><li>First, deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) was shown to improve the velocity of discrete, ballistic movements in PD. The neural correlates of ballistic movements were then studied by recording from the STN of PD patients, revealing onset of beta-range desynchronization prior to, and gamma-range frequency synchronization during, performance of fast arm reaches. To determine a causal role for these oscillatory frequencies in motor behavior, the motor cortex of healthy humans was stimulated at either beta or gamma frequency during a 'go/no-go' grip force task. Beta stimulation resulted in slower force generation on 'go' trials but enhanced inhibition during 'no-go' trials, whereas gamma stimulation resulted in faster force generation on 'go' trials.</li> <li>Second, STN DBS resulted in improved repetitive tapping performance in PD patients through a reduction in variability. Recordings from the STN demonstrated that repetitive movement was accompanied by a substantial and persistent suppression of beta oscillatory activity.</li> <li>Third, Parkinson's patients were tested on a motor adaptation task, revealing intact learning but impaired retention of a visuomotor rotation. Application of direct current stimulation of the motor cortex resulted in enhanced adaptation during both learning and retention in PD patients and healthy controls.</li> <li>These results causally implicate the basal ganglia and oscillatory activity in motor control, provide insight into the neuronal mechanisms of motor performance and adaptation, and demonstrate promising new avenues for enhancing motor control in Parkinson's disease.</li></ul></p>
spellingShingle Neuroscience
Joundi, RA
Enhancing motor performance in the healthy and Parkinsonian brain: adaptation, oscillations, and electrical stimulation
title Enhancing motor performance in the healthy and Parkinsonian brain: adaptation, oscillations, and electrical stimulation
title_full Enhancing motor performance in the healthy and Parkinsonian brain: adaptation, oscillations, and electrical stimulation
title_fullStr Enhancing motor performance in the healthy and Parkinsonian brain: adaptation, oscillations, and electrical stimulation
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing motor performance in the healthy and Parkinsonian brain: adaptation, oscillations, and electrical stimulation
title_short Enhancing motor performance in the healthy and Parkinsonian brain: adaptation, oscillations, and electrical stimulation
title_sort enhancing motor performance in the healthy and parkinsonian brain adaptation oscillations and electrical stimulation
topic Neuroscience
work_keys_str_mv AT joundira enhancingmotorperformanceinthehealthyandparkinsonianbrainadaptationoscillationsandelectricalstimulation