Using DBS to Probe Basal Ganglia Dysfunction

This study will probe the function of collections of neurons deep in the brain termed the basal ganglia It will investigate the role of the basal ganglia in how and why movement is disrupted in conditions like Parkinson's disease, Dystonia and Essential Tremor. Deep brain recording and stimulation will be used to probe the basal ganglia's contribution. Patients with relatively severe movement disorders may have electrodes implanted in the basal ganglia so that stimulation can be delivered chronically as a form of therapy. Studying these patients allows researchers (a) to record brain activity from these electrodes in the basal ganglia during symptoms related to abnormal motor control and (b) to stimulate the same electrodes while patients experience symptoms. Like this they can see what aspects of the activity of groups of nerve cells in the basal ganglia are associated with which symptoms and also establish that these aspects of activity help cause linked symptoms. This means studying patients just after electrode implantation, while the leads from the electrodes may still be available for hooking up to external recording and stimulating devices. Understanding how the activity of groups of nerve cells in the basal ganglia controls movement may help us develop improved treatments.