Week 6: DBS

I shadowed DBS surgery this week and it was remarkable. Let see what is DBS. I studied and read few papers to be ready for DBS immersion experience.

I recommend these two papers (I used some of their figures here):

• Kringelbach, Morten L., et al. "Translational principles of deep brain stimulation." Nature Reviews Neuroscience 8.8 (2007): 623-635.
• Benabid, Alim Louis. "Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease." Current opinion in neurobiology 13.6 (2003): 696-706. 

Now, What is DBS?

The modulation of brain activity by way of direct electrical stimulation of the brain has been in use since 1870, when it was shown that electrical stimulation of the motor cortex in dogs can elicit limb movement.Electrical stimulation was introduced as a tool for improving neurosurgical procedures in humans from as early as 1884.  In modern times, the implantation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) pacemakers in specific brain regions has become the basis of highly successful therapies that alleviate the symptoms of otherwise treatment-resistant disorders such as chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, tremor, and dystonia.




Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown remarkable therapeutic benefits for patients with otherwise treatment-resistant movement and affective disorders. This technique is not only clinically useful, but it can also provide new insights into fundamental brain functions through direct manipulation of both local and distributed brain networks in many different species. In particular, DBS can be used in conjunction with non-invasive neuroimaging methods such as magnetoencephalography to map the fundamental mechanisms of normal and abnormal oscillatory synchronization that underlie human brain function. The precise mechanisms of action for DBS remain uncertain, but here we give an up-to-date overview of the principles of DBS, its neural mechanisms and its potential future applications.

Significant effects of stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) on blood flow, can be measured with positron emission tomography (PET). Significant increases were found in the left midbrain, and significant decreases were found in midline frontal to parietal cortices, bilateral somatosensory and motor areas and the prefrontal cortex

A post-operative magnetic resonance image showing the placement of the DBS electrodes in the bilateral internal globus pallidus (GPi) (upper pair of arrows) and subthalamic nucleus (STN).

Watch this few videos to see the power of DBS: