John A. Stanford, Ph.D.

Our research is focused on analyzing basal ganglia function in relation to motor function in preclinical models of normal aging and Parkinson’s disease. In these conditions, changes in the functional dynamics of the nigrostriatal DA system may disrupt the normal processing of motor-related information throughout the basal ganglia. Motor function is measured using spontaneous behavior and following operant conditioning. We also study the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on behavior and basal ganglia circuitry. GDNF increases dopamine function and movement capacity in animal models of aging and PD. These studies demonstrate the plasticity of the adult nervous system, even in senescence and diseased states.