Basal Ganglia Networks in Parkinson’s Disease

Study Rationale: People with Parkinson’s disease have long been known to display remarkable motor abilities under special circumstances, such as smooth walking with certain visual or auditory cues. This phenomenon is called paradoxical kinesia. In addition, placebos can be surprisingly effective in treating the motor signs of the disease. Team Strick hypothesizes that a specific neuroanatomical substrate supports paradoxical kinesia and the placebo effect. The team plans to define this substrate and investigate its functional organization.

Hypothesis: Team Strick hypothesizes that a specific neural circuit supports paradoxical kinesia and the placebo effect.

Study Design: Team Strick will use cutting-edge techniques to reveal the two distinct brain circuits that enable the basal ganglia to influence the control of voluntary movement in primates. Next, the team will record the electrical and chemical activity of basal ganglia neurons in the best animal model of Parkinson’s disease. In addition, Team Strick will determine the molecular signatures of basal ganglia neurons that are affected by the disease and those that are left intact. Finally, the team will image neural activity in human subjects affected by the disease to determine the full range of strategies that could be used to improve basal ganglia function.

Impact on Diagnosis: Team Strick’s results could re-shape paradigms for therapeutic development and attempts to influence disease progression. Importantly, the team’s results have the potential to use basal ganglia circuits that are untouched by the disease to promote recovery of more normal motor function..