NWO grant for Stephanie Forkel to explore brain circuits

Unlocking the brain circuits behind speech in Parkinson’s

Forkel’s research focuses on why speech often deteriorates in Parkinson’s disease, despite treatments like medication and deep brain stimulation (DBS). “Speech is incredibly complex, involving over 100 muscles and 10 organs to produce even a single word,” Forkel explains. The neural mechanisms behind speech production and their potential remains unclear  “When it breaks down in Parkinson’s, a disorder affecting 11,8 million adults globally, we still don’t fully understand why or how to best treat it.”

By studying how the basal ganglia are connected to other parts of the brain, and by seeing directly how deep brain stimulation (DBS) changes speech, the team hopes to find out which brain networks are most important for speaking clearly and fluently. They will use advanced MRI scans together with tests on patients at Radboudumc, the largest Parkinson’s clinic in the Netherlands, and work closely with researchers in the UK and South Africa. 

“This work could transform our understanding of the neuroanatomy of speech,” says Dr. Forkel. “Ultimately, this foundational work will enable more targeted and effective interventions for speech disorders.”