Human subthalamic oscillatory dynamics following somatosensory stimulation

Publication date: January 2018
Source:Clinical Neurophysiology, Volume 129, Issue 1
Author(s): Saskia Elben, Carlos Trenado, Jan Vesper, Alfons Schnitzler, Lars Wojtecki
ObjectiveElectrical median nerve somatosensory stimulation leads to a distinct modulation of cortical oscillations. Initial high frequency and gamma augmentation, as well as modulation of beta and alpha oscillations have been reported. We aimed at investigating the involvement of the subthalamic nucleus in somatosensory processing by means of local field potential recordings, since recordings during passive movements and peripheral somatosensory stimulation have suggested a prominent role.MethodsRecordings of subthalamic neuronal activity following median nerve stimulation in 11 Parkinson's disease patients were performed. Time-frequency analysis from 1 to 500 Hz was averaged and analyzed.ResultsSeveral oscillatory components in response to somatosensory stimulation were revealed in the time-frequency analysis: (I) prolonged increase in alpha band power, followed by attenuation; (II) initial suppression of power followed by a subsequent rebound in the beta band; (III) early broad-frequency increase in gamma band power; (IV) and sustained increase of 160 Hz frequency oscillations throughout the trial.ConclusionsThese results further corroborate the involvement of the subthalamic nucleus in somatosensory processing.SignificanceThe present results not only support the notion of somatosensory processing in the subthalamic nucleus. Moreover, an improvement of somatosensory processing during subthalamic deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease might be accounted for by enhancement of prevailing high frequency oscillations.



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