Understanding Brain Signals for Movement Control in Parkinson's Disease with DBS
“Cortical electrophysiology of response inhibition and implications for DBS therapy in patients
This research looks at how brain activity helps people with Parkinson's disease stop movements and actions, and how deep brain stimulation (DBS) and levodopa medication might change this.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174574 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have Parkinson's disease, you might experience difficulty stopping planned actions or ongoing movements, which can sometimes feel like impulsivity. This project aims to understand the brain's electrical signals that control these 'response inhibition' functions, specifically focusing on areas like the prefrontal cortex and the subthalamic nucleus, which is a target for deep brain stimulation (DBS). We want to see how these brain signals are different in people with Parkinson's compared to healthy individuals, and how both levodopa medication and DBS therapy might influence your ability to control movements and actions. Our goal is to uncover the underlying causes of these difficulties and explore how current treatments affect them.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, both those currently taking levodopa medication and those who are not, as well as healthy volunteers.
Not a fit: Patients without Parkinson's disease or those not experiencing issues with movement control and impulsivity related to their condition may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to program deep brain stimulation devices and manage medications for Parkinson's disease, potentially improving your ability to control movements and reduce impulsivity.
How similar studies have performed: While previous studies have explored how deep brain stimulation affects movement control, the specific interactions with brain signals for stopping actions have shown conflicting results, making this a crucial area for further investigation.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miocinovic, Svjetlana — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Miocinovic, Svjetlana
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.