Investigating motor control in the basal ganglia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measuring the basal ganglia signals that underpin continuous control in the human motor system
IRAS ID
198466
Contact name
Nicola Ray
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester Metropolitan University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment for movement disorders like Parkinson's disease. Electrodes are inserted into the basal ganglia of the brain, and an electrical impulse is delivered constantly via a battery that is placed in the chest wall. Just after the surgery has taken place, and before the battery is connected, there is the unique opportunity to use the electrodes to record activity in the basal ganglia while patients perform cognitive and motor tasks, giving important insights into brain function.
We are planning to use this opportunity to study the human motor system, and its interactions with cognitive function. In particular, we are interested in how the brain supports continuous motor control. Recently, we published a series of behavioural studies that provide new insights into how the brain controls continuous movement, with wide-reaching implications for our understanding of the motor system. However, it is now necessary to gain an understanding of how our behavioural findings are reflected in brain function. Importantly, this work will also open new lines of investigation into the mechanisms underlying pathological movements in disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
16/NI/0212
Date of REC Opinion
12 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion