Research Overview
The goal of the proposed studies is to develop a primate model to advance deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the central thalamus (CT) as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of acquired cognitive disabilities resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI). & Each day of the year approximately 4,000 Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI), leaving as many as 100,000 persons/year with long-term cognitive disabilities. We utilize systems neuroscience and bioengineering methods to carry out experimental studies in intact alert, behaving monkeys. The work with monkeys examines the influence of different patterns of electrical stimulation on rostral central thalamic neurons. These neurons link the brain stem centers that control arousal with the cerebral cortex, and play a crucial role in integrating cortex, striatum and thalamus. Behavioral effects of continuous stimulation and of brief pulses applied at specific times are evaluated during the performance of two elementary cognitive tasks. & Neural activity in the monkey’s frontal lobe during and following stimulation is also examined. The long-range goal of this work is to optimize neuromodulation strategies employing electrical stimulation of the central thalamus to treat cognitive impairment following TBI.
