Parkinson’s symptoms relieved

Removing the part of the brain that controls habitual movements could relieve symptoms in Parkinson’s disease sufferers.

Movement is directed by habitual control – stimulus-driven, automatic, unconscious movements – and goal-directed control, which is driven by an appreciation of the actions outcome, and can only be processed one at a time. Many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are linked to a loss of dopamine from regions of the brain involved in habitual control – hence why movements are slow, effortful and easily interrupted, and why they suffer from tremors.

A team of scientists from the University of Sheffield believe that removing part of the basal ganglia that controls habitual movement could help sufferers regain smooth movements. Removing this part of the brain means goal-directed movements are not competing with distorted inhibitory signals from the malfunctioning habitual control system.

“We hope our analysis provides a better understanding of the link between normal and abnormal functioning in the basal ganglia,” said Professor Peter Redgrave from the department of psychology, “This is important because the better your understanding of normal function, the better the questions you can ask about its failings, which hopefully will direct you towards more effective treatments.”

It’s hoped that his new interpretation of Parkinson’s disease will help discover new cures and treatments by directing attention towards what makes the habitual basal ganglia vulnerable and to why goal-directed behaviour is disrupted by dysfunctional signals from the habitual behaviour circuits.