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Uncovering the underlying mechanisms and whole-brain dynamics of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease

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  • Victor M Saenger, Center for Brain and Cognition, Computational Neuroscience Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08018, Spain. Electronic address: tristan.nakagawa@upf.edu.
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  • Joshua Kahan, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience & Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
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  • Tom Foltynie, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience & Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
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  • Karl Friston, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
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  • Tipu Z Aziz, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom.
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  • Alexander L Green, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom.
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  • Tim J van Hartevelt, University of Oxford
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  • Joana Cabral
  • Angus B A Stevner, University of Oxford
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  • Henrique M Fernandes, University of Oxford
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  • Laura Mancini, Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
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  • John Thornton, Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
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  • Tarek Yousry, Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
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  • Patricia Limousin, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience & Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
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  • Ludvic Zrinzo, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience & Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
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  • Marwan Hariz, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience & Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
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  • Paulo Marques, Clinical Academic Center (2CA-Braga), 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
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  • Nuno Sousa, Clinical Academic Center (2CA-Braga), 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
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  • Morten L Kringelbach
  • Gustavo Deco, Center for Brain and Cognition, Computational Neuroscience Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Roc Boronat 138, Barcelona 08018, Spain; Institució Catalana de la Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain; Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Clayton VIC 3800, Australia.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease is a highly effective treatment in controlling otherwise debilitating symptoms. Yet the underlying brain mechanisms are currently not well understood. Whole-brain computational modeling was used to disclose the effects of DBS during resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in ten patients with Parkinson's disease. Specifically, we explored the local and global impact that DBS has in creating asynchronous, stable or critical oscillatory conditions using a supercritical bifurcation model. We found that DBS shifts global brain dynamics of patients towards a Healthy regime. This effect was more pronounced in very specific brain areas such as the thalamus, globus pallidus and orbitofrontal regions of the right hemisphere (with the left hemisphere not analyzed given artifacts arising from the electrode lead). Global aspects of integration and synchronization were also rebalanced. Empirically, we found higher communicability and coherence brain measures during DBS-ON compared to DBS-OFF. Finally, using our model as a framework, artificial in silico DBS was applied to find potential alternative target areas for stimulation and whole-brain rebalancing. These results offer important insights into the underlying large-scale effects of DBS as well as in finding novel stimulation targets, which may offer a route to more efficacious treatments.

Original languageEnglish
Article number9882
JournalScientific Reports
Volume7
Issue1
Pages (from-to)9882
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Aug 2017

    Research areas

  • Journal Article

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