# Basal Ganglia Cortical Coupling and Connectivity Changes in PD and DBS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $599,791

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The pathophysiological basis underlying the development of parkinsonian motor signs (PMS) and how deep
brain stimulation (DBS) works to improve them is unclear. Synchronized oscillations in the beta band have
been proposed to play a significant role, but how this activity leads to the development of the motor
abnormalities in Parkinson's disease (PD), the potential role of oscillatory activity in other frequency bands and
how this affects neuronal activity in the basal ganglia thalamo-cortical circuit (BGTC) are not well understood.
In this proposal we will further explore the cortical-subcortical interactions that underlie the development of
PMS, how DBS modifies this activity, and compare DBS to L-dopa alone or with DBS by examining the
changes in synchronized oscillatory activity, coupling and connectivity changes that occur between cortical and
subcortical structures under these different conditions. To better understand the relative effect of stimulation
focused into motor versus nonmotor regions of the subthalamic nucleus and internal segment of the globus
pallidus on BGTC circuitry and motor signs we will compare the effect of DBS directed into motor versus
nonmotor regions using segmented lead technology, explore whether these interactions change with continued
DBS and develop novel algorithms for closed loop DBS that include both beta and gamma frequency
spectrums and incorporate a novel “phasic stimulation” approach where stimulation is timed to a specific phase
of the oscillation. The nonhuman primate MPTP model of PD will be used and animals will be assessed both at
rest, as well as during passive movement and task related activity. This study will provide a greater
understanding of the pathophysiological changes that occur in BGTC circuitry in PD, further delineate the
mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of DBS and L-dopa, and characterize the effect of directional
DBS on BGTC circuitry and motor signs, while identifying physiological biomarkers to be used for closed loop
algorithms that improve motor signs both at rest and during task related activity where biomarker activity is
dynamic and constantly changing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9879765
- **Project number:** 5R01NS037019-20
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jerrold L Vitek
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $599,791
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1999-07-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9879765

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9879765, Basal Ganglia Cortical Coupling and Connectivity Changes in PD and DBS (5R01NS037019-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9879765. Licensed CC0.

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