Delta Oscillations Are a Robust Biomarker of Dopamine Depletion Severity and Motor Dysfunction in Awake Mice

• DOI: 10.1101/2020.02.09.941161
• Publication Date: 2020-02-11T01:15:26Z
• Authors: Timothy C. Whalen; Amanda M. Willard; Jonathan E. Rubin; Aryn H. Gittis
• Keywords: Bursting

Abstract Delta oscillations (0.5–4 Hz) are a robust but often overlooked feature of basal ganglia pathophysiology in Parkinson’s disease and their relationship to parkinsonian akinesia has not been investigated. Here, we establish novel approach detect spike embedded noise provide the first study delta awake, dopamine depleted mice. We find that approximately half neurons substantia nigra reticulata exhibit depletion these strong indicator loss akinesia, outperforming measures such as changes firing rate, irregularity, bursting synchrony. further caused by D2 receptor activation do require motor cortex, contrary previous findings anesthetized animals. These results give insight into how leads dysfunction suggest reappraisal biomarker disease.