Physics (Internal)

Study of Striatal Cholinergic System in Parkinson’s Disease by Optogenetics

This event is part of the Preliminary Oral Exam.

Examining committee: Kenneth Rothschild, Tulika Bose, Nancy Kopell (Math Dept), Xue Han (BME)

Abstract:

Parkinson's Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting over five million people around the world. PD patients experience devastating motor deficits, such as bradykinesia (slowness of movement), tremor, and rigidity. Our lab has pioneered optogenetics, a novel neurotechnology using light and genetic methods to control specific neurons in the brain. Combining optogenetics with classical electrophysiology to record neural signals, while activating or silencing different brain cells with light, we can identify specific brain activities responsible for certain behavioral phenomena. Using these tools, I am examining the causal role of different neural network elements in PD pathology. By optogenetically silencing and stimulating neurons in transgenic mice optogentic proteins, I am studying whether the strong ‘brain-wave’ oscillation between 10Hz and 30Hz, known as “beta oscillation”, is responsible for PD motor deficit, and whether suppressing beta oscillations is responsible for the therapeutic effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS), an emerging effective treatment for PD.