# PFC circuits and systems in human intraoperative neurophysiology

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2021 · $123,178

## Abstract

Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is an increasingly prevalent progressive neurodegenerative disorder that in
most patients eventually leads to disabling non-motor symptoms including significant speech, and
cognitive dysfunction. These impairments can dramatically reduce quality of life for patients and their
families. Importantly, few treatments exist that can effectively treat these non-motor effects. Furthermore,
treatments like dopaminergic medications and deep brain stimulation (DBS) that are generally effective
at improving the motor function of people with PD, are very often ineffective at improving speech and
cognition. In many cases, these treatments can even worsen those functions.
Prefrontal cortex (PFC) is known to be key to effective human speech and cognitive function. However,
many questions remain about how human PFC is affected by PD, and how these disease-specific effects
result in disrupted speech and cognitive function. To address these knowledge gaps and in order to
optimize and develop better treatments for those living with PD, it is necessary to better understand the
role of PFC in speech and cognition. Here we study 20 PD patients who have chosen to undergo
bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS implantation surgery to leverage this special opportunity to
directly record from PFC sites during speech and cognitive tasks during surgery. In addition, we will
simultaneously record from STN, as it is known to be connected to PFC and modulated by those brain
regions. To complement the detailed anatomical and temporal resolution of direct PFC and STN brain
recordings and effective connectivity measures between these cortical and subcortical regions,
participants will also be assessed with detailed structural, functional, and connectivity MRI imaging
studies. Scans will be obtained before and three months after surgery so all areas of PFC, in both
cerebral hemispheres can be assessed with speech and cognitive tasks.
In addition, we will collect PFC tissue samples in these participants during their surgery to examine gene
expression. Gene expression profiles related to dopamine and cholinergic pathways and language will
be quantified. To our knowledge, this feasibility data will be the first of its kind to evaluate participants
with PD before, during, and after surgery with the goals of defining the role of PFC and its interactions
with STN in speech and cognitive function. Such knowledge will provide mechanistic insights that cannot
be obtained using other techniques and will guide development of new studies and hopefully eventually
treatments of impaired speech and cognition in PD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10283244
- **Project number:** 1P20NS123151-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeremy Greenlee
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $123,178
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-17 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10283244

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10283244, PFC circuits and systems in human intraoperative neurophysiology (1P20NS123151-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10283244. Licensed CC0.

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