Altered SNr activity under dopamine depletion: mechanistic predictions from data-driven network models
bioRxiv 2025.08.15.670540
Applied dynamical systems · Computational neuroscience
John E. Parker, PhD
Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
I study how structured perturbations reshape nonlinear and chaotic dynamics, from stabilizing chaotic neurons to data-driven models of the parkinsonian basal ganglia.
- Dynamical systems
- Chaos & control
- Computational neuroscience
- Parkinson's disease modeling
- Scientific software
Welcome
I am an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Previously, I was a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Williams College.
Research contains an overview of my research and results are found at Publications. I routinely discuss my results at conferences and seminars, listed at Presentations. Teaching contains course descriptions from the courses I have taught. Visit the About Me page to learn more.
Please feel free to get in touch!
News
Started as Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at MCLA.
Presented data-driven network assembly in the parkinsonian basal ganglia at SIAM Life Sciences 2026 in Cleveland.
Organized the mini-symposium "Oscillatory Transitions and Stability in Neural Networks" at ICMNS 2026 in Montreal.
Welcomed summer research students Bennett Ptak and Nye Hanan. See Students.
Riya Juneja '26 earned Highest Honors for a thesis on burst detection in neural spike data.
Research areas
01
Parkinson's Disease Modeling
Data-driven network models of the basal ganglia output nucleus in health and dopamine depletion.
02Chaotic Dynamics and Control in Neural Systems
Stabilizing chaotic neural dynamics onto cupolets, and how control propagates through networks.
03Scientific Software and Computational Methods
Open-source, reproducible tools for classifying and analyzing neural spike trains.
Recent publications & preprints
All publications →Stimulation of the Medial SNr Promotes Sustained Motor Recovery and Counteracts Parkinsonian Pathophysiology in Dopamine Depleted Mice
bioRxiv 2024.12.09.627637
Dopamine depletion weakens direct pathway modulation of SNr neurons
Neurobiology of Disease (Apr. 2024), p. 106512