New insights for fine-tuning deep brain stimulation settings
May 9, 2023 — A recent study led by Prof. Matt Johnson provides neuroanatomical insights for selecting electrode configurations when treating Parkinson’s disease with deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy. Results were published in Scientific Reports in their article, “Classification of electrically-evoked potentials in the parkinsonian subthalamic nucleus region.”
In the study, the team investigated the spatiotemporal features of electrically evoked potentials in and around the subthalamic nucleus in a preclinical animal model of Parkinson’s disease.
By gaining a better understanding of the spatial position and orientation of each electrode in the context of the subthalamic nucleus, they found several principles that will enable clinicians to know the depth of a deep brain stimulation lead implant without the need for post-operative patient-specific imaging.
This can ultimately help fine-tune stimulation settings, as selectively targeting neural pathways with DBS therapies is critical for delivering a strong therapeutic effect without inducing side effects.