A surprising brain discovery is forcing scientists to rethink movement disorders
Key takeaways
- These disorders originate from problems in the cerebellum, a region of the brain involved in coordinating movement.
- For years, neuroscientists have focused on the relationship between two types of brain cells in the cerebellum.
- A new study led by Meike van der Heijden suggests that assumption may not hold true.
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
New research from a Virginia Tech neuroscientist at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC is raising questions about a long-standing approach to studying chronic neurological conditions such as dystonia, ataxia, and tremor.
These disorders originate from problems in the cerebellum, a region of the brain involved in coordinating movement. When the cerebellum is disrupted, people can experience symptoms including painful muscle contractions, abnormal postures, and uncontrollable shaking.
For years, neuroscientists have focused on the relationship between two types of brain cells in the cerebellum. One group, known as Purkinje cells, suppresses activity in another group called deep cerebellar nuclei cells. Because of this connection, researchers have generally assumed that observing Purkinje cell activity provides a reliable picture of what is happening in the deep nuclei cells.