Gertrúd Tamás

Full Citation: Berki ÁJ, Ding H, Palotai M, et al. Subthalamic stimulation evokes hyperdirect high beta interruption and cortical high gamma entrainment in Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2025;11(1):95.

A more accurate understanding of a symptom helps us choose the best possible therapy, inform patients about the nature of their illness, and develop strategies to improve their quality of life. Both activities require serious concentration, yet they make the workdays diverse. Successes give me energy: patient feedback, accepted publications and the enthusiastic interest of young colleagues.

Gertrúd Tamás, MD, PhD, is an associate professor at the Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University in Budapest, where she has been working for over 25 years. 

Dr.  Tamás graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Semmelweis University in 2000, obtained her PhD in 2005, completed board certification in neurology in 2007 and achieved habilitation in 2024. She leads a dedicated movement disorders inpatient and outpatient unit that includes a deep brain stimulation (DBS) program.

Her clinical and scientific work focuses on movement disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease and tremor syndromes. As a researcher, she combines advanced electrophysiological techniques with kinematic analysis to better understand motor regulation and treatment response. She has published more than 35 scientific articles in English and Hungarian and has actively contributed to the organization of international scientific and educational activities in the field of neurology.

Advancing Personalized Neuromodulation in Parkinson’s Disease

The research addresses a central challenge in the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease: bradykinesia, the slow and effortful movement that significantly impairs daily functioning. In patients with long-standing disease, motor fluctuations frequently occur, with periods of bradykinesia alternating with involuntary movements as a complication of chronic medication therapy. While subthalamic deep brain stimulation is an effective treatment option, current systems do not yet adapt stimulation in real time to the patient’s motor state.

This research explored network-level brain dynamics underlying bradykinesia by investigating interactions between subthalamic and cortical activity in the beta and gamma frequency bands. Using sophisticated electrophysiological recordings and movement analysis in patients undergoing bilateral subthalamic DBS, the study demonstrated that increasing stimulation intensity reduces pathological high beta activity while enhancing cortical high gamma interactions, particularly involving the primary motor cortex. These network changes were closely linked to improvements in voluntary movement speed.

Importantly, the findings identify subthalamic high beta-cortical high gamma coupling as a potential brain biomarker of bradykinesia. This biomarker could, in the future, support adaptive DBS systems that adjust stimulation parameters according to the patient’s current motor state. By outlining the need for multisensory approaches that integrate subthalamic and cortical signals, the study represents an original scientific contribution with clear translational relevance and the potential to improve symptom control and quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Bridging Science and Patient-Centered Care

Dr. Tamás’s interest in medicine was shaped early in life. Growing up in a family rooted in science and healthcare, with a physician father and a biology teacher mother, she developed a strong fascination with biological systems. During her medical studies, anatomy sparked a particular interest in the nervous system and neural networks, while her aptitude for physics led her toward electrophysiological research. This combination enabled her to integrate scientific investigation with clinical leadership in deep brain stimulation.

She views research and clinical practice as deeply interconnected. Research provides a level of understanding that cannot be achieved through routine patient care alone and this knowledge directly feeds back into more precise diagnosis, better treatment selection and improved communication with patients. For her, both roles require intense focus but together make each workday intellectually rich and diverse. Motivation comes from tangible successes: patient feedback, accepted publications and the curiosity and enthusiasm of younger colleagues.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature. Weekends are often spent running or swimming with her energetic dog, who she jokingly describes as her personal trainer. Traveling is another source of inspiration and she has written many of her scientific articles while working from terraces in inspiring locations.

Being selected as a finalist for the International Medis Awards is a meaningful honor for Dr. Tamás. In a field where progress often requires long periods of persistent effort and creative problem-solving, especially in regions with limited resources, this recognition serves as a rare and valuable moment of celebration. It affirms the importance of sustained scientific work and highlights the impact that dedicated clinical research can have on improving patient care.