Thalamic deep brain stimulation activates the cerebellothalamocortical pathway

G F Molnar; A Sailer; C A Gunraj; A E Lang; A M Lozano; R Chen

doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000137419.85535.c7

Thalamic deep brain stimulation activates the cerebellothalamocortical pathway

Neurology. 2004 Sep 14;63(5):907-9. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000137419.85535.c7.

Authors

G F Molnar¹, A Sailer, C A Gunraj, A E Lang, A M Lozano, R Chen

Affiliation

¹ Division of Neurology , Krembil Neuroscience Centre and Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 15365147
DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000137419.85535.c7

Abstract

To investigate the mechanism of action of deep brain stimulation (DBS), the authors studied the effects of thalamic DBS on the cerebellothalamocortical (CTC) pathway. With DBS turned off, excitability of the CTC pathway was reduced. Turning DBS on resulted in facilitation of the CTC pathway. Therefore, thalamic DBS appears to activate rather than inhibit the target area.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Cerebellar Cortex / physiopathology
Cerebellum / physiopathology*
Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology*
Deep Brain Stimulation*
Dentate Gyrus / physiopathology
Electromyography
Essential Tremor / physiopathology
Essential Tremor / therapy*
Female
Humans
Magnetics / therapeutic use
Male
Middle Aged
Models, Neurological
Motor Cortex / physiopathology
Neural Pathways / physiopathology
Purkinje Cells / physiology
Thalamus / physiopathology*