Project outline

NEURIPIDES will capitalize on the advancement in the understanding of pathophysiological networks of Parkinson’s disease and neural mechanisms of treatments accumulated during 25 years of DBS and neuroimaging research to develop a new approach to network modulation, non-invasively through neurofeedback. Neurofeedback entails training of self-regulation of brain regions or networks via real-time feedback of neural signals, for example obtained by functional MRI (fMRI). Neurofeedback is a highly sustainable form of non-invasive neuromodulation because, once learnt, the self-regulation strategies can be applied by patients whenever needed to overcome motor problems or other symptoms. The combination of DBS with fMRI provides a unique opportunity to study the neural effects of local brain stimulation at the network level.