NEC Seminar
Speaker: Prajakta Joshi
Advisor: Aasef Shaikh, M.D., Ph.D.
Abstract: Physical exercise has demonstrated potential in enhancing motor function in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). It results from the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia (BG) circuitry responsible for motor control. Over the past two decades, substantial evidence has underscored the effectiveness of exercise-based physical therapy for promoting long-term rehabilitation in PD. However, the precise neurological mechanisms underlying these therapeutic benefits remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to understand how exercise affects the neurophysiological response of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) – a structure within the basal ganglia and a target of deep brain stimulation surgery for PD. We conducted a 12-session, month-long stationary biking intervention with PD patients who have been implanted with the Medtronic Percept PC stimulator to record local field potential (LFP) activity from their STN. In this talk, we will examine the changes and adaptations of the LFP features in both acute and long-term LFP recordings.