Chronic pedunculopontine nucleus stimulation restores functional connectivity

Neuroreport. 2010 Dec 8;21(17):1065-8. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e32833ce607.

Abstract

The mechanisms of deep brain stimulation (DBS) are poorly understood. Earlier, high-frequency DBS has been thought to represent a depolarization block of the target area and low-frequency stimulation has been thought to 'drive' neuronal activity. We investigated the long-term effect of low-frequency DBS in a longitudinal imaging study of a patient who received bilateral pedunculopontine nucleus stimulation. We used the diffusion tensor imaging techniques including probabilistic tractography and topographic mapping to analyze long-term changes in connectivity with low-frequency DBS. Post-DBS connectivity analysis suggested a normalization of pathological pedunculopontine nucleus connectivity with DBS therapy. These findings may help elucidate the mechanisms of DBS, suggesting neuroplasticity involving a reorganization of target connectivity long term. This is the first reported case showing neuroimaging evidence of neuroplasticity after low-frequency DBS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Deep Brain Stimulation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neural Pathways / anatomy & histology
  • Neural Pathways / physiology*
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
  • Parkinson Disease / therapy*
  • Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus / anatomy & histology
  • Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus / physiology*
  • Recovery of Function / physiology
  • Time Factors