Department of Biomedical Engineering/Neurology
Mentor: Luke Johnson, Ph.D., Department of Neurology
Project: Investigating the effects of biomarker-based directional deep brain stimulation on the basal ganglia-thalamocortical network in parkinsonism
During this fellowship, Devyn has been studying how the brain’s motor network works by recording the activity of hundreds of neurons at the same time. By observing so many neurons together, he can see how brain signals change under different conditions—such as when targeted deep brain stimulation (DBS) is applied. What excites him most about this work is the level of detail it provides. Instead of listening to one neuron at a time, he can now capture the activity of more than 600 neurons in a single day, giving us a high-resolution view of how the motor network functions as a whole.
Understanding how DBS influences this network can help guide the development of more precise and effective therapies in the future. By building a foundational map of the basal ganglia–thalamocortical (BGTC) network across many conditions, this research has the potential to benefit Minnesotans—and beyond—by supporting the next generation of brain-based treatments.
