Objective: To explore neural mechanisms of inhibitory control, specifically differentiating reactive from prepared inhibitory processes, by synthesizing recent intracranial EEG (iEEG) studies and neurophysiological research highlighting their significance in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: Inhibitory control, the ability to suppress inappropriate or unwanted actions, is critically impaired in Parkinson’s disease, significantly impacting patient quality of life. Traditional behavioral assessments have limitations in distinguishing the underlying neural components of inhibition. Recent studies employing intracranial electrophysiological methods provide unique insights into neural networks responsible for inhibition, which are relevant to understanding PD pathology.

Method: A systematic review of peer-reviewed original research and review articles published in the last five years was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The articles selected involved intracranial recordings (stereo-EEG/iEEG) or high-resolution electrophysiological approaches that directly examined inhibitory control mechanisms and their disruptions in PD patients.

Results: Recent intracranial EEG studies consistently demonstrate disrupted inhibitory control mechanisms in PD, particularly highlighting impairments in beta (13-30Hz) and gamma (30Hz+) oscillatory activity within basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical networks. Findings suggest that these oscillatory patterns are critically involved in both reactive (unplanned) and proactive (prepared) inhibition. Intracranial studies uniquely identify dysfunction in basal ganglia circuits and associated cortical areas, emphasizing the role of impaired beta synchronization as a hallmark of inhibitory dysfunction in Parkinson’s patients. These electrophysiological insights correlate strongly with clinical symptomatology, including motor freezing, impulsivity, and action suppression deficits observed in PD.

Conclusion: Current intracranial research provides compelling evidence of distinct neural substrates underlying inhibitory control deficits in Parkinson’s disease. Insights from disrupted beta and gamma band activity within basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuits offer potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and targets for neuromodulatory interventions to improve PD’s inhibitory function.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/neurophysiological-research-on-inhibitory-processes-in-parkinsons-disease/