Digitising tremor

The nervous system speaks a digital language. A heathy nervous system orchestrates a vast array of action potentials to produce a repertoire of voluntary movements. Neurological diseases such as parkinson's disease and essential tremor (ET), however, disrupt the execution of smooth voluntary movements and hinder the performance of even simple tasks, like holding a cup of coffee. ET, the most common movement disorder, affects an estimated 5% of people aged 60 years and older globally. Although the complete set of neurological mechanisms that cause ET are yet to be elucidated, oscillatory signalling within the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) has a key role. Two insights are opening the door to developing improved diagnostics and therapies for people with ET.