The electrode to recovery

Parkinson's disease starts when the nerve cells in the part of the brain called the "substantia nigra" begin to degenerate. These are the cells that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that coordinates movement and muscle control, and if there's not enough of it, tremors begin and stiffness of the body occurs. As the disease progresses, walking and talking become difficult. Often, depression sets in. There are drugs that can help, but before long, the effects begin to wear off, while the side effects worsen. The article looks at another option: implanting electrodes in the brain. Using electrical impulses, the electrodes stimulate specific areas of the brain so that they function properly despite the drop in dopamine production. These electrodes then form part of a brain-to-computer interface.