Pathophysiology of the Basal Ganglia

(PI: Léon Tremblay)

Our team entitled has been created (2009) following the coming together of researchers and neurologists, around a common research theme which is the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and more generally the pathophysiology of the Basal ganglia (BG). By combining a preclinical approach, that is developed on non-human primate (NHP), with the clinical approach (based on PET imaging) performed in patients our translational research objectives are focused on three main axis:

1. a better understanding the pathophysiology of PD and of compensatory mechanisms taking place after dopamine and serotonin depletion
2. a highlighting of the non-motor functions (motivation and cognitive functions) of BG in the context of different Neuropsychiatric disorders such as PD, Tourette’s syndrome, Schizophrenia, compulsive-impulsive disorders, Depression and food intake disorders
3. and finally a questioning regarding the impact and mechanisms of therapeutic approaches (Deep brain stimulation, pharmacological approach targeting dopamine and/or serotonin transmission and cognitive remediation) to potentially reverse neuropsychiatric symptoms involving BG dysfunctions.