William D. Hutchison

Senior Scientist, Toronto Western Research Institute
Associate Professor
Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery
Department of Physiology
Institute of Medical Science

Research Synopsis

Research Divisions: Brain Research and Integrated Neurophysiology

Research Interests: Research is directed towards neurophysiology of Parkinson’s disease, dystonia and essential tremor Research interests include mechanisms of deep brain stimulation action, role of neuronal oscillations in Parkinson’s disease, dystonia and essential tremor. The current focus of my work in intraoperative recordings from movement disorders patients is measuring the deficit in short- and long term activity-dependent plasticity in basal ganglia structures and the powerful effects of dopamine in reversing this deficit. Additional work relates to human subcallosal cortex and the possible role of neuronal activity, synaptic plasticity and oscillations in contributing to depression symptoms and outcome from DBS therapy. Lab animal work involves multiarray neurophysiological recording in cortex following acute focal stroke, and newer techniques of voltammetry to measure serotonin and dopamine release from cortical stimulation. Some previous research activities relate to neurophysiology of pain and temperature sensation in humans and animals.

Keywords: Motor control, Parkinson’s Disease, Globus Pallidus, Movement Disorders, Dystonia, Animal Models, Stroke, dopamine, synaptic plasticity, trigeminal thermoreceptors, cortical plasticity, depression, Electroencephalography (EEG), Electromyography (EMG), Electrophysiology, beta oscillations, subthalamic nucleus, deep brain stimulation (DBS), reward, emotional brain function

Detailed Description:
Single and multi-channel recording from thalamus, subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus in awake patients during stereotactic neurosurgery for movement disorders. This provides a clinical function to identify with precision the subcortical target for lesion or implantation of chronic stimulating electrodes.

Collaborators: Drs. Andres Lozano, Moji Hodiae, Suneil Kalia
 

METHODS USED

Procedures: EEG, Electrophysiology, in-vivo electrophysiology, in-vivo recording of local field potentials, micro and macrostimulation of periphera nerves and central brain structures, stereotaxic brain surgery

EQUIPMENT USED

Amplifier (Axon Instruments Guideline), dissecting microscope (Leica), electrophysiology rig, fast scan cycle voltammetry, motorized micromanipulators, stimulator.

PRESENT TRAINEES

Shane Ellis (MSc. Candidate)
Ian Prescott (PhD candidate)
Luka Srejic (PhD candidate)
Dielor Basa (research assistant)
Luiz de Santos Batista (visiting MD student, Brazil)
Tacito Bessa (visiting MD student, Brazil

Inside of the Department of Physiology
Jonathan Dostrovsky (emeritus)
Outside of the Department of Physiology
Robert Chen, MD PhD, Neurology, Toronto Western
Andres Lozano, MD PhD, Neurosurgery , Toronto Western Hospital
Moji Hodaie, MD PhD, Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital
Adriana Lopez Rios MD Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario San Vicente Medellin, Colombia
Parry Hashemi, Dept Analytical Chemistry/ Wayne State, Detroit, MI

Committee member/officer of national/international scientific organizations
Movement Disorders Society, Society for Neuroscience
World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Alexander von Humboldt Society

Recent Publications

PLoS One. 2015 Jun 17;10(6):e0130656. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130656. eCollection 2015.
Risk Assessment of Genetically Engineered Maize Resistant to Diabrotica spp.: Influence on Above-Ground Arthropods in the Czech Republic.
Svobodová Z1, Skoková Habuštová O2, Hutchison WD3, Hussein HM2, Sehnal F1.

Appointments

Cross-Appointed
Primary: Surgery