Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Resident Award: Responses of Subthalamic Neurons during Visually Guided Movements in Patients with Parkinson Disease

摘要

The current understanding of basal ganglia circuitry suggests that loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson disease (PD) results in abnormal neuronal activity in the subtha-lamic nucleus (STN).Based on these findings, and a growing body of clinical data, the STN is now one of the preferred targets for the treatment of PD.One of the treatment options is the placement of deep brain stimulating (DBS) electrodes in the STN with the goal of reducing or modifying abnormal neuronal activity.During surgery, microelectrode recordings are commonly used to localize the target nucleus. Neuronal activity related to movement is usually assessed intra-operatively by using passive limb movements or relatively unconstrained voluntary movements.