Summary
Inhibitory control over unwanted thoughts, emotions and movements is essential for effective interaction with our environment. This becomes particularly evident when there is too little inhibition, as in obsessive-compulsive disorder or Tourette’s syndrome, or too much, as in Parkinson’s disease. Recent evidence links successful inhibition to the power of neural oscillations in the beta band (15-30Hz) in a circuit involving the frontal cortex and the subthalamic nucleus. While this is an important step forward, it is not yet sufficient to develop effective neuromodulatory treatments for inhibitory control disorders. For that, we need to understand how the beta oscillations mediate neuronal communication within the fronto-subthalamic circuit.
In this proposal, I address this challenging question through novel applications of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). This non-invasive brain stimulation technique aligns neuronal oscillations to an oscillating low-intensity electrical current applied to the brain. This external control over oscillatory power and phase will allow me to investigate: (1) the functional relevance of beta oscillatory phase, and (2) the causal role of interactions between beta oscillations and other frequency bands (‘cross-frequency coupling’). Subsequently, I will develop an innovative, non-invasive, treatment strategy for inhibitory control deficits, by recording and modulating abnormal circuit activity only when present.
Maastricht University is the ideal place to perform this research program as it is one of the only institutes in the world that has access to a new generation of deep brain stimulators, enabling concurrent recording of cortical and subthalamic activity, and it houses one of the pioneering groups in using oscillation-based non-invasive brain stimulation. Integration within this multidisciplinary team will offer an exceptional opportunity to increase my skill set, and capability to launch my own research group.
In this proposal, I address this challenging question through novel applications of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). This non-invasive brain stimulation technique aligns neuronal oscillations to an oscillating low-intensity electrical current applied to the brain. This external control over oscillatory power and phase will allow me to investigate: (1) the functional relevance of beta oscillatory phase, and (2) the causal role of interactions between beta oscillations and other frequency bands (‘cross-frequency coupling’). Subsequently, I will develop an innovative, non-invasive, treatment strategy for inhibitory control deficits, by recording and modulating abnormal circuit activity only when present.
Maastricht University is the ideal place to perform this research program as it is one of the only institutes in the world that has access to a new generation of deep brain stimulators, enabling concurrent recording of cortical and subthalamic activity, and it houses one of the pioneering groups in using oscillation-based non-invasive brain stimulation. Integration within this multidisciplinary team will offer an exceptional opportunity to increase my skill set, and capability to launch my own research group.
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More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/798619 |
| Start date: | 01-03-2019 |
| End date: | 23-10-2022 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 165 598,80 Euro - 165 598,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
Inhibitory control over unwanted thoughts, emotions and movements is essential for effective interaction with our environment. This becomes particularly evident when there is too little inhibition, as in obsessive-compulsive disorder or Tourette’s syndrome, or too much, as in Parkinson’s disease. Recent evidence links successful inhibition to the power of neural oscillations in the beta band (15-30Hz) in a circuit involving the frontal cortex and the subthalamic nucleus. While this is an important step forward, it is not yet sufficient to develop effective neuromodulatory treatments for inhibitory control disorders. For that, we need to understand how the beta oscillations mediate neuronal communication within the fronto-subthalamic circuit.In this proposal, I address this challenging question through novel applications of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). This non-invasive brain stimulation technique aligns neuronal oscillations to an oscillating low-intensity electrical current applied to the brain. This external control over oscillatory power and phase will allow me to investigate: (1) the functional relevance of beta oscillatory phase, and (2) the causal role of interactions between beta oscillations and other frequency bands (‘cross-frequency coupling’). Subsequently, I will develop an innovative, non-invasive, treatment strategy for inhibitory control deficits, by recording and modulating abnormal circuit activity only when present.
Maastricht University is the ideal place to perform this research program as it is one of the only institutes in the world that has access to a new generation of deep brain stimulators, enabling concurrent recording of cortical and subthalamic activity, and it houses one of the pioneering groups in using oscillation-based non-invasive brain stimulation. Integration within this multidisciplinary team will offer an exceptional opportunity to increase my skill set, and capability to launch my own research group.
Status
CLOSEDCall topic
MSCA-IF-2017Update Date
28-04-2024
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