Multiple Frequencies in the Basal Ganglia in Parkinson's Disease

Clare M Davidson,Annraoi M De Paor,Madeleine M Lowery

doi:10.15598/aeee.v13i3.1363

Clare M Davidson, Annraoi M De Paor + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.15598/aeee.v13i3.1363

Copy DOI

Abstract

In recent years, the authors have developed what appears to be a very successful phenomenological model for analyzing the role of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. In this paper, we extend the scope of the model by using it to predict the generation of new frequencies from networks tuned to a specific frequency, or indeed not self-oscillatory at all. We have discussed two principal cases: firstly where the constituent systems are coupled in an excitatory-excitatory fashion, which we designate by ``+/+''; and secondly where the constituent systems are coupled in an excitatory-inhibitory fashion, which we designate ``+/-''. The model predicts that from a basic system tuned to tremor frequency we can generate an unlimited range of frequencies. We illustrate in particular, starting from systems which are initially non-oscillatory, that when the coupling coefficient exceeds a certain value, the system begins to oscillate at an amplitude which increases with the coupling strength. Another very interesting feature, which has been shown by colleagues of ours to arise through the coupling of complicated networks based on the physiology of the basal ganglia, can be illustrated by the root locus method which shows that increasing and decreasing frequencies of oscillation, existing simultaneously, have the property that their geometric mean remains substantially constant as the coupling strength is varied. We feel that with the present approach, we have provided another tool for understanding the existence and interaction of pathological oscillations which underlie, not only Parkinson's disease, but other conditions such as Tourette's syndrome, depression and epilepsy.

Highlights

Over the last ten years, some of the authors’ research on external assistive technology have been reported in this journal
This is inspired by the observation that pathological basal ganglia oscillations in the range 3–300 Hz have been recorded in Parkinsonian patients
We suggest that the interaction between distinct loops either tuned to a particular frequency or inherently non-oscillatory can give rise to this range of oscillatory frequencies. We explore this hypothesis using two inter-coupled loops set to produce oscillations in the tremor range of frequencies, this could be extended to encompass a wide range of frequencies such as appear in the Parkinsonian basal ganglia LFP recordings [7], [8], [9], [10]

Summary

Introduction

Over the last ten years, some of the authors’ research on external assistive technology have been reported in this journal. The model presented in [2] is used as the basis with which to explore the oscillatory activity in self-oscillating and non-self-oscillating coupled loops This is inspired by the observation that pathological basal ganglia oscillations in the range 3–300 Hz have been recorded in Parkinsonian patients. We suggest that the interaction between distinct loops either tuned to a particular frequency or inherently non-oscillatory can give rise to this range of oscillatory frequencies We explore this hypothesis using two inter-coupled loops set to produce oscillations in the tremor range of frequencies, this could be extended to encompass a wide range of frequencies such as appear in the Parkinsonian basal ganglia LFP recordings [7], [8], [9], [10]. Concepts from control theory, in particular the use of root locus analysis, are applied to analyze the model

Methods

Results

Conclusion