Probing the mechanistic role of beta oscillations in cognition by means of deep brain stimulation

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Jan Hirschmann
• Subject Area: Human Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 453272523

Neuronal beta oscillations (13-35 Hz) in basal ganglia-cortex loops are believed to play an important role in a number of cognitive processes. The evidence for their importance, however, is mostly correlative. Thus, it remains a matter of debate whether these oscillations have a causal, mechanistic role or whether they arise as an epiphenomenon of information processing. Here, I propose testing the mechanistic role of beta oscillations for cognition by manipulating the beta rhythm of basal ganglia-cortex loops. This will be achieved by applying deep brain stimulations (DBS) at beta frequencies to the subthalamic nucleus of patients with Parkinson’s disease. The regular pulse sequence administered subcortically is hypothesized to modulate beta oscillations in connected cortical areas, as suggested by pilot data. This modulation, in turn, is hypothesized to result in an alteration of response inhibition, a cognitive behavior mediated by basal ganglia-cortex loops.This project seeks not only to modulate oscillations in the subcortical target area, but to additionally influence cortical oscillations and to correlate this remote effect to behavioral changes. It may establish DBS as a tool for assessing the role of cortical beta oscillations for different behaviors. The project consists of two studies: study 1 is a proof-of-principle study designed to test the feasibility of cortical modulation by beta DBS in a larger cohort. Study 2 will investigate the consequences of this modulation for response inhibition.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigators: Professor Dr. Markus Butz; Professor Dr. Alfons Schnitzler