Dr. MacKinnon's Movement Disorders Laboratory's mission is to gain a greater understanding of the mechanisms causing movement problems in people with neurological disorders and to translate this knowledge to the development of novel therapies and interventions to improve movement function, mobility, and quality of life. They use a variety of non-invasive neurophysiological techniques (high-resolution EEG, TMS, tDCS, startle) to probe the cortical, subcortical, and spinal mechanisms contributing to movement impairment. They also collaborate with Center of Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), to use brain imaging methods to examine the changes in brain anatomy and connectivity associated with movement disorders. Their present research focus is to examine the mechanisms contributing to the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease and to advance the basic understanding and therapeutic efficacy of deep brain stimulation technology.
