Deep Brain Stimulation at the Internal Globus Pallidus Produces fMRI Response in the Motor Cortex

John Robert Younce¹, Hsin-Yi Lai¹, Yen-Yu Ian Shih¹

This study demonstrates significant response in the motor cortex as a result of deep brain stimulation at the internal globus pallidus. The BOLD responses occur bilaterally in a frequency-dependent manner, with positive responses in the ipsilateral motor cortex peaking at high frequencies (100 Hz), and negative responses in the contralateral motor cortex peaking at low frequencies (40 Hz). These frequencies generally correspond to those producing improvement and exacerbation, respectively, of parkinsonian symptoms in humans and animal models, making this technique potentially powerful for exploration of cerebral changes in DBS in parkinsonian animal models.