Modulations in pallidal local field potentials in the systemic 1-methyl-4-phenyl-l, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine nonhuman primate model of Parkinson´s disease during a voluntary reaching task

This case-study characterizes the changes in neuronal activity that occur within the globus pallidus (GP) in the behaving systemic 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) nonhuman primate model of Parkinson´s disease (PD) while on and off dopaminergic therapy. Local field potentials (LFP) were recorded from a scaled 8-contact deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead during a center-out reaching task. Spectral LFP activity and reach behavior were correlated with parkinsonian motor signs and changes in behavior during dopaminergic treatment. Dopamine therapy i) increased reaction time and decreased reach time, ii) shortened the onset-times of LFP synchronization and desynchronization during reaction time, and iii) eliminated desynchronization of the high beta band. These findings suggest that dopamine-induced improvement in bradykinesia is related to a change in the pattern of synchronized oscillatory activity in GP.