Understanding how the brain connects thoughts and actions in movement disorders
Neural representation of perceptual decisions, confidence, and actions in human basal ganglia and thalamus
This study is looking at how certain parts of the brain that help with movement affect how we turn our thoughts into actions, and it's for people with Parkinson's disease who are getting treatment with deep brain stimulation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11245831 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how brain structures involved in movement, particularly the basal ganglia and motor thalamus, influence the connection between our thoughts and actions. By recording and stimulating these brain areas in awake patients who are receiving deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes, the study aims to explore how neural responses are linked to decision-making and movement initiation. Participants will engage in tasks that require them to make judgments about faces while their brain activity is monitored, providing insights into the cognitive and motor processes that may be disrupted in conditions like Parkinson's disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with movement disorders, particularly those undergoing deep brain stimulation for conditions like Parkinson's disease.
Not a fit: Patients with purely cognitive disorders without motor symptoms may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for movement disorders by better understanding the brain mechanisms that integrate cognition and motor function.
How similar studies have performed: While there has been research on the separate roles of cognition and movement, this approach of integrating both through direct brain stimulation in awake subjects is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kiani, Roozbeh — New York University
- Study coordinator: Kiani, Roozbeh
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.