normal movement

Levodopa

too little movement

high beta power

low beta power

On Levodopa

Beta highly suppressible

Off Levodopa

Beta poorly suppressible

RMS Beta

Joystick Movement

Time-evolving spectrum STN

This schematic summarises the level and reactivity of beta synchrony recorded in the basal ganglia of patients with Parkinson’s disease according to their clinical state. When patients are treated with dopaminergic drugs like levodopa, background levels of beta activity are reduced and the remaining activity is further suppressed prior to voluntary movements. In the untreated state, beta is elevated and poorly suppressed or even increased by movement. Play the videos to see these respective patterns, here recorded from the subthalamic nucleus (STN).

normal movement

Levodopa

too little movement

high beta power

low beta power