The findings build directly on the team's previous identification of a core cortico-subcortical PD circuit derived from the somato-cognitive action network (SCAN), the SPARK (SCAN-Parkinson's) circuit, as reported in their study published in Nature in February 2026 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-10059-1), which first characterized this circuit in PD. These results provide mechanistic evidence that neuromodulation therapies exert their effects through modulation of this circuit, and offer a circuit-level framework for the development of personalized, non-invasive precision treatment strategies.

This study establishes the world's largest longitudinal DBS-fMRI dataset to date, derived from a systematic one-year follow-up of 14 PD patients. With over 200 hours of high-quality imaging data collected, the research team successfully provides mechanistic insights into how DBS exerts its effects by modulating the SPARK circuit, yielding two key findings:

First, the study reveals that the SPARK circuit is the critical response region for DBS neuromodulation. The research provides powerful evidence that the SPARK circuit is not only the pathological origin of PD but also the core target through which neuromodulation exerts its effects.

Second, the study confirms that DBS remodels abnormal functional connectivity within the SPARK circuit. These results are highly consistent with the team's previous research published in Nature, proving that the clinical efficacy of DBS essentially stems from the long-term regulation and functional remodeling of abnormal SPARK connectivity.

These findings imply that non-invasive interventions targeting the SPARK circuit are supported by the same biological foundation as surgical neuromodulation.

Furthermore, the research revealed significant individual variability in brain functional networks across patients, which directly influence the clinical outcomes of neuromodulation therapies. This discovery points toward a new direction for the field: a paradigm shift from traditional, empirical "trial-and-error" parameter tuning toward a personalized precision treatment model rooted in individual brain circuits.

Leveraging its proprietary Personalized Brain Functional Sectors (pBFS) technology and a specialized precision circuit stimulation system, Galaxy Brain Scientific has achieved the clinical application of personalized, non-invasive precision intervention. This approach enables a "one-person-one-strategy" model for individualized care. Clinical trials have confirmed that by using the precision circuit stimulation system to deliver non-invasive intervention to each patient's unique SPARK target, clinical efficacy is more than double that of traditional stimulation targets.

Galaxy Brain Scientific is already moving to bring these insights to the clinical frontline, having begun a pivotal registration trial for Class III devices dedicated to treating PD. "Our goal is to redefine the treatment paradigm for brain disorders," added Prof. Liu. "By moving from 'one-size-fits-all' to 'one-person-one-strategy', we are now pioneering the application of this technology to treat complex conditions beyond Parkinson's, including autism and Alzheimer's disease."

About Galaxy Brain Scientific

Galaxy Brain Scientific (https://www.gb-scientific.cn) is a world-leading platform for the translation and industrialization of brain science research. Guided by its mission to "Advancing brain cognition and conquering brain diseases", the company provides safe, non-invasive, and personalized precision treatment solutions for major brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and autism, striving to become a leader in the global field of brain disease diagnosis and treatment.

PD currently affects over 13 million people worldwide and continues to pose a major clinical challenge, as existing treatments ranging from long-term medication to invasive deep brain stimulation (DBS) are often limited by diminishing efficacy or surgical risks. For decades, the disease was conceptualized as a movement disorder arising from dysfunction of the basal ganglia. We are tackling this big challenge head-on: clinical ready solutions that solve brain disorder. This study— an international collaboration between Galaxy Brain Scientific Inc., Washington University in St. Louis, Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Harvard University—analyzed precision functional neuroimaging data from over 800 participants to reveal a different story.

The researchers identified severe dysfunction in the somato-cognitive action network (SCAN)—a brain network essential for planning, coordinating, and executing actions—as the core feature of PD. In patients, this network shows abnormally high functional connectivity with deep brain regions, a signature not observed in other movement disorders such as essential tremor. "Our work shows that the disease is rooted in a much broader network dysfunction," noted Prof. Hesheng Liu. "The SCAN is hyperconnected to key subcortical regions in PD, and this abnormal hyperconnectivity disrupts not only movement but also related cognitive and automatic functions."

A critical finding of the research is that all existing effective therapies for PD share a common mechanism: they reduce this abnormally high connectivity between the SCAN and deep brain regions, essentially normalizing the circuit. "Our findings establish Parkinson's as a SCAN disorder. By targeting this network with personalized precision, we can now treat the disease more effectively than ever—potentially slowing or reversing its progression, rather than just suppressing symptoms," said co-author Nico U. Dosenbach, MD, PhD, the David M. & Tracy S. Holtzman Professor of Neurology at WashU Medicine.

This pioneering study was enabled by Galaxy Brain Scientific's proprietary personalized Brain Functional Sectors (pBFS) technology and its precision circuit stimulation system. The company's China NMPA -approved software and hardware system offers individualized precision targeting and non-invasive TMS stimulation with millimeter accuracy.

Galaxy Brain Scientific is already moving to bring these insights to the clinical frontline, having begun a pivotal registration trial for Class III devices dedicated to treating PD. Beyond Parkinson's, the company is also pioneering the application of this technology to treat other complex brain disorders, including Autism and Alzheimer's Disease.