Insights into Parkinson's disease from computational models of the basal ganglia

Mark D. Humphries*, Jose Angel Obeso, Jakob Kisbye Dreyer

*Corresponding author for this work
18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Movement disorders arise from the complex interplay of multiple changes to neural circuits. Successful treatments for these disorders could interact with these complex changes in myriad ways, and as a consequence their mechanisms of action and their amelioration of symptoms are incompletely understood. Using Parkinson's disease as a case study, we review here how computational models are a crucial tool for taming this complexity, across causative mechanisms, consequent neural dynamics and treatments. For mechanisms, we review models that capture the effects of losing dopamine on basal ganglia function; for dynamics, we discuss models that have transformed our understanding of how beta-band (15-30 Hz) oscillations arise in the parkinsonian basal ganglia. For treatments, we touch on the breadth of computational modelling work trying to understand the therapeutic actions of deep brain stimulation. Collectively, models from across all levels of description are providing a compelling account of the causes, symptoms and treatments for Parkinson's disease.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry
Volume89
Pages (from-to)1181-1188
Number of pages8
ISSN0022-3050
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2018

Keywords

  • parkinson's disease

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