# Neural mechanisms of impaired postural control in people with Parkinson's disease

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2024 · $47,009

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prominent neurodegenerative disease with over 90,000 cases being
diagnosed annually. Little is known about the pathogenesis of abnormal trunk posturing/impaired
postural control in PD. Trunk postural control is particularly problematic during both standing (e.g.
excessive forward and lateral flexion) and turning (“en bloc” turning). Corticospinal, reticulospinal and
vestibulospinal systems contribute to the control of trunk muscles, but their roles in the pathogenesis of
disordered trunk control are unclear. To date, no studies have investigated the function of descending
neural pathways on the control of the trunk during static postures and dynamic movements in people
with PD. This proposal will use two noninvasive neuromodulation techniques, transcranial magnetic
stimulation (TMS) and electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS), to characterize: (i) the excitability of
corticomotoneuronal (corticospinal and corticoreticulospinal) projections to trunk muscles during quasi-static
postures and prior to turning, and (ii) the engagement of vestibulospinal projections during standing and
turning. Aim 1: (A) Compare trunk muscle corticomotoneuronal and intracortical excitability (via TMS)
in sitting and standing between people with PD and healthy controls. (B) Examine the relationships
between TMS responses and quantitative assessments of posture and gait. Trunk muscle responses
to single and paired-pulse TMS of the primary motor cortex trunk region will quantify the excitability of
corticomotoneuronal and intracortical (inhibition and facilitation) pathways in quasi-static postures (sitting
and standing). Aim 2: (A) Compare the modulation of corticomotoneuronal pathway excitability to
trunk muscles (via TMS) immediately prior to turns in people with PD and healthy controls. Single
pulse TMS will quantify the change in excitability of corticomotoneuronal pathways immediately prior to a
90° turn. Aim 3: Compare the modulation of (A) EVS-ground reaction force (GRF) coherence and (B)
EVS-trunk electromyograph (EMG) coherence prior to and during turns in people with PD and healthy
controls. Vestibulo-postural coupling will be tested by computing the coherence between EVS and the (A)
GRFs used to maintain balance and (B) surface EMG from the trunk muscles. This work will provide novel
insight into the pathophysiology of disordered trunk control in PD. This proposed study is part of a fellowship
training plan that will include training in (i) quantitative motor assessments using biomechanical and EMG
techniques, (ii) clinical neurophysiological and neuromodulation techniques, and (iii) professional
development skills that are essential for a successful career as a rehabilitation scientist. The University of
Minnesota’s expansive research infrastructure, the multi-disciplinary Program in Rehabilitation Science, and
the Movement Disorders Laboratory create an ideal environment for completing this research and training...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10995801
- **Project number:** 1F31NS139497-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Callen M Maupin
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $47,009
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-26 → 2027-08-25

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10995801

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10995801, Neural mechanisms of impaired postural control in people with Parkinson's disease (1F31NS139497-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10995801. Licensed CC0.

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