title: Neural mass models describing possible origin of the excessive beta oscillations correlated with Parkinsonian state.
abstract: In Parkinson's disease, the enhanced beta rhythm is closely associated with akinesia/bradykinesia and rigidity. An increase in beta oscillations (12-35 Hz) within the basal ganglia (BG) nuclei does not proliferate throughout the cortico-basal ganglia loop in uniform fashion; rather it can be subdivided into two distinct frequency bands, i.e. the lower beta (12-20 Hz) and upper beta (21-35 Hz). A computational model of the excitatory and inhibitory neural network that focuses on the population properties is proposed to explore the mechanism underlying the pathological beta oscillations. Simulation results show several findings. The upper beta frequency in the BG originates from a high frequency cortical beta, while the emergence of exaggerated lower beta frequency in the BG depends greatly on the enhanced excitation of a reciprocal network consisting of the globus pallidus externus (GPe) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN). There is also a transition mechanism between the upper and lower beta oscillatory activities, and we explore the impact of self-inhibition within the GPe on the relationship between the upper beta and lower beta oscillations. It is shown that increased self-inhibition within the GPe contributes to increased upper beta oscillations driven by the cortical rhythm, while decrease in the self-inhibition within the GPe facilitates an enhancement of the lower beta oscillations induced by the increased excitability of the BG. This work provides an analysis for understanding the mechanism underlying pathological synchronization in neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case Western Reserve University, 44106, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yulin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Automation and Electrical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology and Educations, 300222, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Huiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: dengbin@tju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case Western Reserve University, 44106, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fietkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case Western Reserve University, 44106, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Loparo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001611:Beta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Basal ganglia; Beta oscillation; Cortical input; Neural mass model; Parkinsonian state