Daniel Novák presents Burst Dynamics in Brain and Muscle Signals Reveal Impulse Control Deficits in Parkinson?s
On 2026-04-24 - 2026-04-24 11:00:00 at G205, Karlovo náměstí 13, Praha 2
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss
of
dopamine-producing neurons, leading to motor symptoms such as tremor and
slowed movement. Dopamine-replacing medications can improve these
symptoms but may also trigger impulse control disorders, including excessive
gambling or binge eating. Currently, there are no objective markers to identify
those at risk.
The aim of my PhD was to investigate the neurophysiological mechanisms
underlying impaired impulse control in people with Parkinson’s disease
(PwPD), and to disentangle the effects of disease pathology from dopamine
medication. Across two studies, I combined electromyography (EMG),
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and electroencephalography (EEG) to
measure muscle bursting, corticomotor excitability, and transient β-band
bursts in the brain while participants performed an impulse control task.
Trial-by-trial β-burst activity was analysed using a recently developed
approach combining linear mixed-effects modelling with threshold-free
cluster enhancement.
Results revealed neurophysiological changes spanning motor control regions
in the brain and descending pathways to the muscle, which were most
pronounced in participants receiving dopamine medication compared with
those who were unmedicated. These findings highlight the potential of β- and
muscle-burst dynamics as objective markers for identifying people at risk of
impulse control disorders in Parkinson’s disease, enabling early
intervention.
[The work will be presented by Aliya Warden who is a new postdoc in the AID
group]
of
dopamine-producing neurons, leading to motor symptoms such as tremor and
slowed movement. Dopamine-replacing medications can improve these
symptoms but may also trigger impulse control disorders, including excessive
gambling or binge eating. Currently, there are no objective markers to identify
those at risk.
The aim of my PhD was to investigate the neurophysiological mechanisms
underlying impaired impulse control in people with Parkinson’s disease
(PwPD), and to disentangle the effects of disease pathology from dopamine
medication. Across two studies, I combined electromyography (EMG),
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and electroencephalography (EEG) to
measure muscle bursting, corticomotor excitability, and transient β-band
bursts in the brain while participants performed an impulse control task.
Trial-by-trial β-burst activity was analysed using a recently developed
approach combining linear mixed-effects modelling with threshold-free
cluster enhancement.
Results revealed neurophysiological changes spanning motor control regions
in the brain and descending pathways to the muscle, which were most
pronounced in participants receiving dopamine medication compared with
those who were unmedicated. These findings highlight the potential of β- and
muscle-burst dynamics as objective markers for identifying people at risk of
impulse control disorders in Parkinson’s disease, enabling early
intervention.
[The work will be presented by Aliya Warden who is a new postdoc in the AID
group]