Abstract Details

Title Electrophysiological evidence for DBS influencing network versus individual neuron activity in the Subthalamic Nucleus

Topic Movement Disorders

Presentation(s) S8 - Neuromodulation in Movement Disorders (2:00 PM-2:08 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 001

Background

Although DBS is a well-established treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) and movement disorders, its mechanisms are poorly understood. There is a knowledge gap regarding if DBS affects the brain on a cellular versus a network level (McIntyre et al. 2004; Lozano et al. 2019). Here, we examine individual neurons, local circuits, and network relationships in the STN and cortex with DBS.

Objective

Our goal is to investigate the cellular and local network dynamics of neurons in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) when stimulated with deep brain stimulation (DBS). This effort is part of larger goals to understand the neurophysiological mechanism of DBS, and how DBS changes motor processing in the human brain.

Design/Methods Patients with PD underwent neurosurgery for DBS electrode placement. Intraoperatively, we recorded APs and LFPs from a microelectrode placed in STN, 2 mm anterior to the DBS lead. We simultaneously recorded LFP in the premotor cortex using a micro-electrocorticography (micro-ECoG) grid. DBS was performed in the anesthetized patient at various frequencies (30, 70, 140, and 250 Hz). Statistical significance was tested with ANOVA or t-tests and used a time-jittered “AP”-aligned LFP as a control.

Results

In our preliminary results, DBS does not change the firing rate of neurons in the STN. The LFP in the STN aligned on APs from a neuron in the STN shows increased power in the alpha frequency band when stimulated at a clinically relevant frequency (140 Hz).

Conclusions

Our results provide insight into the effects of DBS on neural tissue. This data suggests that DBS acts at the network level because of the lack of effect on STN neuron firing and the changes in AP-LFP relationship. Understanding the electrophysiological changes in neural circuits with DBS will advance our understanding of the mechanisms of DBS in the cortico-thalamic-basal ganglia circuit and provide insight into DBS and neural pathology.

Authors/Disclosures
Ashley C. Guest PRESENTER	Mrs. Guest has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Holly A. Shill, MD, FAAN (Barrow Neurology Clinics)	Dr. Shill has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Sage Biogen. Dr. Shill has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Abbvie. Dr. Shill has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for KeifeRx. Dr. Shill has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Praxis Precision Medicine. Dr. Shill has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Fasikl Inc.
Francisco Ponce (Barrow Neurological Institute)	No disclosure on file
Bradley Greger, PhD	The institution of Prof. Greger has received research support from DoD. Prof. Greger has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care.