Awarded in 2026
Home Department: Biology
Faculty Advisor: Mark Schnitzer (Biology and Applied Physics)

Title: Millisecond-Scale Voltage Imaging of Dopamine-Dependent Striatal Dynamics in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract:
Parkinson's disease affects millions of people worldwide and causes disabling movement symptoms. Although the loss of dopamine is known to play a central role, scientists still do not fully understand how dopamine loss changes the fast electrical activity of brain circuits that control movement. This project will develop and use high-speed voltage imaging to measure electrical activity in specific types of striatal neurons, a group of brain cells strongly involved in movement control and Parkinson's disease. By recording both rapid electrical signals and dopamine-related activity, this work will test how dopamine normally helps organize brain-cell activity patterns and how those patterns break down after dopamine loss. The results could reveal new principles of Parkinson's disease circuit dysfunction and help guide future strategies for restoring healthy brain activity.