Optical stimulation of brain region boosts motor function in Parkinson’s models

Dynamic basal ganglia output signals license and suppress forelimb movements

The basal ganglia are fundamental to motor control and their dysfunction is linked to motor deficits1–8. Influential investigations on the primate oculomotor system posited that movement generally depends on transient pauses of tonically firing inhibitory basal ganglia output neurons releasing brainstem motor centres9,10. However, prominent increases in basal ganglia output neuron firing observed during other motor tasks cast doubts on the propo…

How brain stimulation alleviates symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Persons with Parkinson's disease increasingly lose their mobility over time and are eventually unable to walk. Hope for these patients rests on deep brain stimulation, also known as a brain pacemaker.

Optical stimulation of brain region boosts motor function in Parkinson’s models

Researchers are investigating the mechanisms and identifying new areas of the brain that can benefit patients when stimulated.

How deep brain stimulation alleviates symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

A new study by researchers at Ruhr University Bochum and Philipps-Universität Marburg has explored how deep brain stimulation positively impacts patients with Parkinson’s disease Parkinson’s disease is a condition that causes parts of the brain to become progressively damaged over many years. The main symptoms include involuntary shaking of specific parts of the body (tremors), slow movement, and stiff and inflexible muscles. Deep brain stimulat…