Tools for post-operative localization of deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes may be of major benefit in the evaluation of the stimulation area. However, little is known about their precision. This study compares 3 different software packages used for DBS electrode localization. T1-weighted MRI images before and after the implantation of the electrodes into the subthalamic nucleus for DBS in 105 Parkinson's disease patients were processed using the pipelines implemented in Lead-DBS, SureTune4, and Brainlab. Euclidean distance between active contacts determined by individual software packages and in repeated processing by the same and by a different operator was calculated. Furthermore, Dice coefficient for overlap of volume of tissue activated (VTA) was determined for Lead-DBS. Medians of Euclidean distances between estimated active contact locations in inter-software package comparison ranged between 1.5 mm and 2 mm. Euclidean distances in within-software package intra- and inter-rater assessments were 0.6-1 mm and 1-1.7 mm, respectively. Median intra- and inter-rater Dice coefficients for VTAs were 0.78 and 0.75, respectively. Since the median distances are close to the size of the target nucleus, any clinical use should be preceded by careful review of the outputs.
- MeSH
- Deep Brain Stimulation * methods instrumentation MeSH
- Electrodes, Implanted * MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging MeSH
- Subthalamic Nucleus surgery MeSH
- Parkinson Disease * therapy MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Software MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND: Temporal interference stimulation (TIS) is a novel noninvasive electrical stimulation technique to focally modulate deep brain regions; a minimum of two high-frequency signals (f1 and f2 > 1 kHz) interfere to create an envelope-modulated signal at a deep brain target with the frequency of modulation equal to the difference frequency: Δf = |f2 - f1|. OBJECTIVE: The goals of this study were to verify the capability of TIS to modulate the subthalamic nucleus (STN) with Δf and to compare the effect of TIS and conventional deep brain stimulation (DBS) on the STN beta oscillations in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: DBS leads remained externalized after implantation, allowing local field potentials (LFPs) recordings in eight patients with PD. TIS was performed initially by two pairs (f1 = 9.00 kHz; f2 = 9.13 kHz, 4 mA peak-peak per pair maximum) of scalp electrodes placed in temporoparietal regions to focus the envelope signal maximum (Δf = 130 Hz) at the motor part of the STN target. RESULTS: The comparison between the baseline LFPs and recordings after TIS and conventional DBS sessions showed substantial suppression of high beta power peak after both types of stimulation in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: TIS has the potential to effectively modulate the STN and reduce the beta oscillatory activity in a completely noninvasive manner, as is traditionally possible only with intracranial DBS. Future studies should confirm the clinical effectiveness of TIS and determine whether TIS could be used to identify optimal DBS candidates and individualize DBS targets. © 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
- MeSH
- Beta Rhythm * physiology MeSH
- Deep Brain Stimulation * methods MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Subthalamic Nucleus * physiopathology MeSH
- Parkinson Disease * therapy physiopathology MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND: Ultrabrief stimulation in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) using a 0.25 or 0.30 ms pulse width markedly reduces the charge required to reach the seizure threshold (ST) and cognitive side effects. It is not known whether further reduction of pulse width to 0.15 ms is advantageous. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients were randomized to ST titration at the first session applying right unilateral (RUL) ECT with either a 0.15 or 0.30 ms pulse width and were titrated again in the second session using the alternative pulse width. All subsequent treatments used the pulse width applied in the second titration session, administering RUL ECT, starting at 6xST. The primary outcome was difference between the pulse widths in ST at the two titration sessions. Exploratory analyses examined differences in seizure duration and postictal time to recover orientation (TRO), averaged across all ECT sessions from the third onwards. Other exploratory analyses examined clinical improvement and retrograde amnesia for autobiographical information and other neuropsychological functions following the ECT course. RESULTS: In the first titration session, ST was significantly lower with the 0.15 ms than 0.30 ms pulse width. ST significantly increased when re-titrating with the 0.30 ms pulse width and significantly decreased when re-titrating with a 0.15 ms pulse width. There were no differences between the pulse width groups in clinical improvement, TRO, or neuropsychological measures. CONCLUSIONS: Ultra-ultrabrief stimulation with a 0.15 ms pulse width is more efficient in seizure induction than a 0.30 ms pulse width. Comprehensive studies should determine whether ultra-ultrabrief stimulation replaces ultrabrief stimulation as a default parameter for ECT.
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Electroconvulsive Therapy * methods adverse effects MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Seizures therapy MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
- Comparative Study MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Diagnostic cortical stimulation (CS) in intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) is an established epilepsy presurgical assessment tool to delineate relevant brain functions and elicit habitual epileptic seizures. Currently, no consensus exists as to whether CS should be routinely performed in pediatric patients. A significant challenge is their limited ability to cooperate during the procedure or to describe non-observable seizure semiology features. Our goal was to identify the spectrum of CS practices in Canada, for both eloquent cortex mapping and seizure stimulation. METHODS: An online survey, answered by all 8 Canadian pediatric epilepsy centers, enquired about implantation, stimulation methods, and use of standardized protocols. A systematic literature review extracted detailed stimulation parameters. RESULTS: Most of the institutions (n = 7/8) reported performing CS during presurgical evaluation. Four institutions indicated they perform stimulation in all implanted patients for the purpose of eloquent cortex mapping and seizure stimulation. The majority of physicians had their individual approach to CS. A largely variable approach to CS, mainly in the choice of stimulation parameters (i.e., train and pulse duration), was observed, with the highest variance concerning the purpose of seizure stimulation. The literature review highlighted an overall small sample size and minimal number of publications. Even though there is a rising trend towards stereotactic iEEG implantation, more data were available on subdural EEGs. CONCLUSION: This study shows individual and sparsely validated approach to CS in pediatric epilepsy. The literature review underscores the urgent need to harmonize pediatric intracranial EEG practices. More multicenter studies are needed to identify safe stimulation thresholds and allow implementation of evidence-based guidelines.
- MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Electroencephalography methods MeSH
- Electrocorticography methods MeSH
- Epilepsy surgery physiopathology diagnosis MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Brain Mapping * methods MeSH
- Cerebral Cortex physiopathology MeSH
- Pediatrics methods MeSH
- Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
- Seizures * physiopathology diagnosis MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Systematic Review MeSH
- Geographicals
- Canada MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the internal globus pallidus (GPi) is a well-established, effective treatment for dystonia. Substantial variability of therapeutic success has been the one of the drivers of an ongoing debate about proper stimulation site and settings, with several indications of the notional sweet spot pointing to the lower GPi or even subpallidal area. METHODS: The presented patient-blinded, random-order study with cross-sectional verification against healthy controls enrolled 17 GPi DBS idiopathic, cervical or generalised dystonia patients to compare the effect of the stimulation in the upper and lower GPi area, with the focus on sensorimotor network connectivity and local activity measured using functional magnetic resonance. RESULTS: Stimulation brought both these parameters to levels closer to the state detected in healthy controls. This effect was much more pronounced during the stimulation in the lower GPi area or beneath it than in slightly higher positions, with stimulation-related changes detected by both metrics of interest in the sensorimotor cortex, striatum, thalamus and cerebellum. CONCLUSIONS: All in all, this study not only replicated the results of previous studies on GPi DBS as a modality restoring sensorimotor network connectivity and local activity in dystonia towards the levels in healthy population, but also showed that lower GPi area or even subpallidal structures, be it white matter or even small, but essential nodes in the zona incerta as nucleus basalis of Meynert, are important regions to consider when programming DBS in dystonia patients.
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Dystonic Disorders therapy physiopathology diagnostic imaging MeSH
- Dystonia therapy physiopathology diagnostic imaging MeSH
- Globus Pallidus * diagnostic imaging physiopathology MeSH
- Deep Brain Stimulation * methods MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging * methods MeSH
- Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the subthalamic nucleus (STN) function and deep brain stimulation (DBS) effects on single-unit activity (SUA) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with dysarthria. METHODS: After presurgical speech analysis, we recorded STN neuronal activities while PD patients (n = 16) articulated Chinese Pinyin consonants. The Pinyin consonants were categorized by the manner and place of articulation for SUA cluster analysis. The cohort was then divided into normal articulation and dysarthria groups based on diadochokinetic (DDK) assessments. The STN SUA patterns, represented by the mean firing rate (FR), peak time, and response intensity during articulation, were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Finally, a stimulation cohort of 7 PD patients was included to test articulation and SUA pattern changes following intraoperative DBS. RESULTS: Clustering analysis of STN neuronal firing patterns demonstrated that neurons encode articulation by grouping consonants with the same manner of articulation into distinct clusters. Using k-means clustering, we further classified SUAs into two waveform types: negative spikes (type 1) and positive spikes (type 2). Dysarthria patients exhibited an increased mean FR of type 1 spikes and a reduced response intensity of type 2 spikes. During intraoperative stimulation, PD patients showed accelerated DDK, accompanied by a decrease in type 1 mean FR and an increase in type 2 mean FR. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate the crucial role of the STN in consonant encoding and dysarthria at the single-unit level. Both SUA firing patterns in the STN and DDK performance can be modulated by DBS.
- MeSH
- Action Potentials physiology MeSH
- Dysarthria * etiology physiopathology MeSH
- Deep Brain Stimulation * methods MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Neurons * physiology MeSH
- Subthalamic Nucleus * physiopathology MeSH
- Parkinson Disease * physiopathology complications therapy MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The aim of this work was to study the effect of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) on the subnetwork of subcortical and cortical motor regions and on the whole brain connectivity using the functional connectivity analysis in Parkinson's disease (PD). The high-density source space EEG was acquired and analyzed in 43 PD subjects in DBS on and DBS off stimulation states (off medication) during a cognitive-motor task. Increased high gamma band (50-100 Hz) connectivity within subcortical regions and between subcortical and cortical motor regions was significantly associated with the Movement Disorders Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) III improvement after DBS. Whole brain neural correlates of cognitive performance were also detected in the high gamma (50-100 Hz) band. A whole brain multifrequency connectivity profile was found to classify optimal and suboptimal responders to DBS with a positive predictive value of 0.77, negative predictive value of 0.55, specificity of 0.73, and sensitivity of 0.60. Specific connectivity patterns related to PD, motor symptoms improvement after DBS, and therapy responsiveness predictive connectivity profiles were uncovered.
- MeSH
- Electroencephalography methods MeSH
- Deep Brain Stimulation * methods MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Brain physiopathology diagnostic imaging MeSH
- Subthalamic Nucleus * physiopathology MeSH
- Parkinson Disease * therapy physiopathology MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
BACKGROUND: Electrical stimulation involving temporal interference of two different kHz frequency sinusoidal electric fields (temporal interference (TI)) enables non-invasive deep brain stimulation, by creating an electric field that is amplitude modulated at the slow difference frequency (within the neural range), at the target brain region. OBJECTIVE: Here, we investigate temporal interference neural stimulation using square, rather than sinusoidal, electric fields that create an electric field that is pulse-width, but not amplitude, modulated at the difference frequency (pulse-width modulated temporal interference, (PWM-TI)). METHODS/RESULTS: We show, using ex-vivo single-cell recordings and in-vivo calcium imaging, that PWM-TI effectively stimulates neural activity at the difference frequency at a similar efficiency to traditional TI. We then demonstrate, using computational modelling, that the PWM stimulation waveform induces amplitude-modulated membrane potential depolarization due to the membrane's intrinsic low-pass filtering property. CONCLUSIONS: PWM-TI can effectively drive neural activity at the difference frequency. The PWM-TI mechanism involves converting an envelope amplitude-fixed PWM field to an amplitude-modulated membrane potential via the low-pass filtering of the passive neural membrane. Unveiling the biophysics underpinning the neural response to complex electric fields may facilitate the development of new brain stimulation strategies with improved precision and efficiency.
- MeSH
- Electric Stimulation MeSH
- Brain * MeSH
- Computer Simulation MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
The relationship between working memory (WM) and neuronal oscillations can be studied in detail using brain stimulation techniques, which provide a method for modulating these oscillations and thus influencing WM. The endogenous coupling between the amplitude of gamma oscillations and the phase of theta oscillations is crucial for cognitive control. Theta/gamma peak-coupled transcranial alternating current stimulation (TGCp-tACS) can modulate this coupling and thus influence WM performance. This study investigated the effects of TGCp-tACS on WM in older adults and compared their responses with those of younger participants from our previous work who underwent the same experimental design. Twenty-eight older subjects underwent both TGCp-tACS and sham stimulation sessions at least 72 h apart. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded before and after the interventions, and a WM task battery with five different WM tasks was performed during the interventions to assess various WM components. Outcomes measured included WM task performance (e.g., accuracy, reaction time (RT)) and changes in power spectral density (PSD) in different frequency bands. TGCp-tACS significantly decreased accuracy and RT on the 10- and 14-point Sternberg tasks and increased RT on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test in older adults. In contrast, younger participants showed a significant increase in accuracy only on the 14-item Sternberg task. Electrophysiological analysis revealed a decrease in delta and theta PSD and an increase in high gamma PSD in both younger and older participants after verum stimulation. In conclusion, theta-gamma coupling is essential for WM and modulation of this coupling affects WM performance. The effects of TGCp-tACS on WM vary with age due to natural brain changes. To better support older adults, the study suggests several strategies to improve cognitive function, including: Adjusting stimulation parameters, applying stimulation to two sites, conducting multiple sessions, and using brain imaging techniques for precise targeting.
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Electroencephalography MeSH
- Gamma Rhythm * physiology MeSH
- Memory, Short-Term * physiology MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation * MeSH
- Reaction Time physiology MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Aging physiology MeSH
- Theta Rhythm * physiology MeSH
- Health MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Working memory (WM) is essential for the temporary storage and processing of information required for complex cognitive tasks and relies on neuronal theta and gamma oscillations. Given the limited capacity of WM, researchers have investigated various methods to improve it, including transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which modulates brain activity at specific frequencies. One particularly promising approach is theta-gamma peak-coupled-tACS (TGCp-tACS), which simulates the natural interaction between theta and gamma oscillations that occurs during cognitive control in the brain. The aim of this study was to improve WM in healthy young adults with TGCp-tACS, focusing on both behavioral and neurophysiological outcomes. Thirty-one participants completed five WM tasks under both sham and verum stimulation conditions. Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings before and after stimulation showed that TGCp-tACS increased power spectral density (PSD) in the high-gamma region at the stimulation site, while PSD decreased in the theta and delta regions throughout the cortex. From a behavioral perspective, although no significant changes were observed in most tasks, there was a significant improvement in accuracy in the 14-item Sternberg task, indicating an improvement in phonological WM. In conclusion, TGCp-tACS has the potential to promote and improve the phonological component of WM. To fully realize the cognitive benefits, further research is needed to refine the stimulation parameters and account for individual differences, such as baseline cognitive status and hormonal factors.
- MeSH
- Behavior physiology MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Electric Stimulation MeSH
- Electroencephalography MeSH
- Gamma Rhythm physiology MeSH
- Memory, Short-Term * physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation * methods MeSH
- Theta Rhythm physiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH