4th Annual Mountain West
Biomedical Engineering Conference

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a non-fatal but highly debilitating degenerative disorder that causes patients to experience symptoms such as tremor, bradykinesia, and other related problems. One of the most promising advances in the treatment of PD has been Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), which involves the placement of stimulating electrodes in the Basal Ganglia (BG), specifically the Internal Globus Pallidus (GPi) or Subthalamic Nucleus (STN), more frequently the STN. DBS, which has been FDA approved for the treatment of PD since 2002, works by stimulating either the GPi or STN in order to eventually inhibit the cortical output from the thalamic cell. The optimal frequency and pattern of stimulation are not currently known and certain side effects have been known to occur (both psychosocial and physical), so we aim to design and use a mathematical model of the BG to optimize the capability of DBS and reduce side effects. Dorval et al. have recently published on a 32-cell model adapted from one designed by Rubin and Terman and we are now working on modifying the Dorval model. We first aim to enhance and make more realistic the synaptic connections between cells as well as the currents in the GPi. Subsequently, we will modify the way that the cells interact in such a fashion that will allow the code to run with each cell on a separate processor so that the model will be able to run considerably more quickly and efficiently. Finally, we will work to make our model capable of displaying and differentiating between inputs of commands similar to the basal ganglia in real life. The end goal of our modeling study will be to infer new knowledge about patterns and frequency of DBS stimulation so that we will be able to better treat human patients who have been afflicted by PD.