Martha Johnson Gdowski, Ph.D.

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RESEARCH:

Sensorimotor Integration in the Basal Ganglia

Many variables influence the decision of whether and when to initiate, suppress, or alter a movement in progress. These decisions, and the movements that follow, are likely orchestrated using basal ganglia circuitry. We postulate that one role of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is to arrest highly practiced movements or movements that are in progress in order to allow for the evaluation of the need for an adjustment of the movement command. The decision to generate a voluntary movement is preceded by evaluation of the context in which the movement is to occur. Consider the factors that influence our motivation to pet a purring cat, or to suppress the petting of a dog. Prior experiences providing a cumulative record of positive or negative outcomes are likely to be strong influences in these evaluations. For instance, prior experiences with a family cat may have proven to be pleasing, whereas a menacing encounter with an unfamiliar dog may have had adverse consequences. These are simple examples of how past and current context contribute to the ultimate decision to move. If the neural circuitry that is responsible for these evaluations are impaired, inappropriate inhibition or facilitation of movements will occur. Several lines of evidence suggest that STN function is impaired in Parkinson Disease (PD) and that treatment with dopamine agonists (Levadopa) or STN deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) may further alter STN function, changing the way in which voluntary movement decisions are made. Work in collaboration with Jonathan W. Mink, MD, PhD and Michelle Burack, MD, PhD examines the effects of drug and deep brain stimulation treatments for PD by quantifying limb movement during the performance of tasks that require sensorimotor integration.

PUBLICATIONS:

Khandwala, V.J., LeBlanc, J.M., Ochocki, B, and Gdowski, M.J. 3-D Motion analysis of planning-related changes in upper limb kinematics resulting from normal aging, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 2008.

Suzanne N. Haber and Martha Johnson Gdowski The Basal Ganglia. In: The Human Nervous System, 2nd Edition (George Paxinos and Jurgen K. Mai, eds.). San Diego, Elsevier Science/Academic Press (2004).

Gdowski, M.J., Miller, L.E., Nenonene, E., Parrish, T., Houk, J.C. Context-dependency in the Globus Pallidus Internal Segment During Targeted Arm Movements. Journal of Neurophysiology 85:998-1004, 2001.

Luciano, M.G., Skarupa, D.J., Booth, A.M., Wood, A.S., Brant, C.L., Gdowski, M.J. Cerebrovascular Adaptation in Chronic Hydrocephalus. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. 21(3):285-94, 2001.

Johnson, M.J., Ayzman, I., Wood, A.S., Tkach, J.A., Klauschie, J., Skarupa, D.J., McAllister, J.P., and Luciano, M.G. Development and Characterization of an adult model of obstructive hydrocephalus. J. Neurosci. Methods 91(1-2):55-65, 1999.

Mangano, F.T., McAllister, J.P., II, Jones, HC, Johnson, M.J., Kriebel, R.M. The microglial response to progressive hydrocephalus in a model of inherited aqueductal stenosis. Neurological Research 20(8):697-704, 1998.

McAllister, J.P., II, Chovan, P., Steiner, C.P., Johnson, M.J., Ayzman, I., Wood, AS, Tkach, JA, Hahn, J.F. and Luciano, M.G. Differential ventricular expansion in hydrocephalus. European Journal of Pediatric Surgery, Suppl 1:39-42, 1998.

Johnson, M.J. and Alloway, K.D. Cross correlation analysis reveals laminar differences in thalamocortical interactions in the somatosensory system. Journal of Neurophysiology, 75: 1444 57, 1996.

Current Appointments

• Associate Professor - Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy (SMD)

Education
PhD Anatomy	The Pennsylvania State University Hershey Medical Center	1995
BS Biology	Gannon University	1990

Post-Doctoral Training & Residency
Research Associate Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL and the Evanston Hospital Department of Neurology, Evanston, IL; James C. Houk, Ph.D. and Lee E. Miller, Ph.D., Research Advisors	1997 - 2001
Research Fellow, Department of Neurosurgery, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH. Mark Luciano, M.D., Ph.D., Research Advisor	1995 - 1997

Fellowship Awards
Department of Neurosurgery, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH

Recent Journal Articles
Showing the 5 most recent journal articles. (12 available)
Gdowski MJ; Miller LE; Bastianen CA; Nenonene EK; Houk JC. "Signaling patterns of globus pallidus internal segment neurons during forearm rotation." Brain research. 2007; 1155():56-69. Epub 2007 Apr 19.
Gdowski MJ; Miller LE; Parrish T; Nenonene EK; Houk JC. "Context dependency in the globus pallidus internal segment during targeted arm movements." Journal of neurophysiology. 2001; 85(2):998-1004.
Luciano MG; Skarupa DJ; Booth AM; Wood AS; Brant CL; Gdowski MJ. "Cerebrovascular adaptation in chronic hydrocephalus." Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. 2001; 21(3):285-94.
Johnson, M.J.; Ayzman, I.; Wood, A.S.; Tkach, J.A.; Klauschie, J.; Skarupa, D.J.; McAllister, J.P.; Luciano, M.G. "Development and Characterization of an adult model of obstructive hydrocephalus." J. Neurosci. Methods (1999): 55-65.
Mangano FT; McAllister JP; Jones HC; Johnson MJ; Kriebel RM. "The microglial response to progressive hydrocephalus in a model of inherited aqueductal stenosis." Neurological research. 1998; 20(8):697-704.