Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Daniel Dorman, Neuroscience
Document Type
Poster
Event Date
4-17-2026
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, leading to impaired motor function and disrupted basal ganglia activity. One of the most effective treatments is deep brain stimulation (DBS), which targets deep brain regions to restore abnormal firing patterns. However, DBS requires invasive surgery to implant electrodes, posing surgical risks and limiting accessibility. This has driven interest in non-invasive alternatives that achieve similar therapeutic outcomes. Transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) is a non-invasive technique delivering two high-frequency currents through scalp electrodes. These currents overlap to produce a low-frequency "beat" capable of reaching deep structures without stimulating off-target regions, enabling selective modulation of neuronal activity. Due to this mechanism, tTIS is being explored as a potential alternative to DBS for PD treatment. This study aimed to develop a computational basal ganglia model capable of simulating tTIS and comparing its effectiveness with DBS. Using NetPyNE, a Python-based interface for NEURON, we simulated Parkinsonian network dynamics and the effects of tTIS and DBS. Model parameters were modified to reflect PD conditions, and tTIS targeted the subthalamic nucleus. Spectral analysis focused on beta-band activity (12–30 Hz), associated with PD severity. Preliminary results indicate both DBS and tTIS reduce excessive beta-band oscillations and restore activity closer to healthy levels. Optimal tTIS parameters (amplitude 0.04 mV, carrier frequencies 1000 Hz and 1100 Hz) reduced beta power by 78.8% relative to PD, differing only 3.3% from healthy levels. Mean firing rate data aligned with patterns observed in human Parkinsonian conditions. These findings suggest tTIS is comparably effective to DBS and holds strong potential as a cost-effective, non-invasive PD.
Recommended Citation
Repository citation: Stolle, Anna, "Temporal Interference Stimulation Effectively Reduces Parkinsonian Beta Band Activity in a Computational Model of the Basal Ganglia Network" (2026). 25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026). Paper 23.
https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/curca_25/23
April 17, 2026. Copyright © 2026 Hope College, Holland, Michigan.
Comments
This research was supported by the Kenneth H. Campbell Foundation for Neurological Research.