A research team led by Changping Laboratory, with collaborators at Washington University School of Medicine and other partners, identified a brain network called the somato-cognitive action network (SCAN). Dosenbach first described SCAN in 2023. The network lies in the motor cortex and links planning and feedback for movements with cognitive processes.
The researchers collected brain imaging from more than 800 participants across institutions in the US and China. The group included people with Parkinson's who had deep brain stimulation (DBS) or noninvasive treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), focused ultrasound, and medicines, as well as healthy individuals and patients with other movement disorders.
Analysis showed Parkinson's involves hyperconnectivity between SCAN and the subcortex, the brain area tied to emotion, memory and motor control. All four therapies were most effective when they reduced that hyperconnectivity and helped normalize the planning-and-action circuit. In a clinical trial, 18 patients who received SCAN-targeted TMS showed a higher response rate than 18 patients who received stimulation at adjacent areas. The team says noninvasive methods could allow earlier neuromodulation than DBS because they do not require surgery.
Difficult words
- somato-cognitive action network — brain system linking movement planning and thinkingsomato-cognitive action network (SCAN), SCAN
- motor cortex — brain area that controls body movements
- subcortex — lower brain region for emotion, memory, movement
- hyperconnectivity — extra strong connections between different brain areas
- deep brain stimulation — surgical treatment that sends electrical signals to braindeep brain stimulation (DBS)
- transcranial magnetic stimulation — noninvasive treatment using magnets to stimulate braintranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
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Discussion questions
- Do you think noninvasive treatments that avoid surgery are important for patients? Why or why not?
- How could reducing hyperconnectivity between brain areas help a person with movement problems? Give one or two reasons.
- Would you be willing to join a clinical trial for a new brain stimulation treatment? Explain your main concern or reason.
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