High-frequency synchronization of neuronal activity in the subthalamic nucleus of parkinsonian patients with limb tremor

What basal ganglia changes underlie the parkinsonian state? The significance of neuronal oscillatory activity

One well accepted functional feature of the parkinsonian state is the recording of enhanced beta oscillatory activity in the basal ganglia. This has been demonstrated in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in animal models such as the rat with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced lesion and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated monkeys, all of which are associated with severe striatal dopamine depletion. Neuronal hyper-synchronization in the beta (or any other) band is not present despite the presence of bradykinetic features in the rat and monkey models, suggesting that increased beta band power may arise when nigro-striatal lesion is advanced and that it is not an essential feature of the early parkinsonian state. Similar observations and conclusions have been previously made for increased neuronal firing rate in the subthalamic and globus pallidus pars interna nuclei. Accordingly, it is suggested that early parkinsonism may be associated with dynamic changes in basal ganglia output activity leading to reduced movement facilitation that may be an earlier feature of the parkinsonian state.

Parkinsonism-related features of neuronal discharge in primates

Parkinson's disease is known to be associated with abnormal electrical spiking activities of basal ganglia neurons, including changes in firing rate, bursting activities and oscillatory firing patterns and changes in entropy. We explored the relative importance of these measures through optimal feature selection and discrimination analysis methods. We identified key characteristics of basal ganglia activity that predicted whether the neurons were recorded in the normal or parkinsonian state. Starting with 29 features extracted from the spike timing of neurons recorded in normal and parkinsonian monkeys in the internal or external segment of the globus pallidus or the subthalamic nucleus (STN), we used a method that incorporates a support vector machine algorithm to find feature combinations that optimally discriminate between the normal and parkinsonian states. Our results demonstrate that the discrimination power of combinations of specific features is higher than that of single features, or of all features combined, and that the most discriminative feature sets differ substantially between basal ganglia structures. Each nucleus or class of neurons in the basal ganglia may react differently to the parkinsonian condition, and the features used to describe this state should be adapted to the neuron type under study. The feature that was overall most predictive of the parkinsonian state in our data set was a high STN intraburst frequency. Interestingly, this feature was not correlated with parameters describing oscillatory firing properties in recordings made in the normal condition but was significantly correlated with spectral power in specific frequency bands in recordings from the parkinsonian state (specifically with power in the 8-13 Hz band).

Exaggerated phase-amplitude coupling in the primary motor cortex in Parkinson disease

An important mechanism for large-scale interactions between cortical areas involves coupling between the phase and the amplitude of different brain rhythms. Could basal ganglia disease disrupt this mechanism? We answered this question by analysis of local field potentials recorded from the primary motor cortex (M1) arm area in patients undergoing neurosurgery. In Parkinson disease, coupling between β-phase (13-30 Hz) and γ-amplitude (50-200 Hz) in M1 is exaggerated compared with patients with craniocervical dystonia and humans without a movement disorder. Excessive coupling may be reduced by therapeutic subthalamic nucleus stimulation. Peaks in M1 γ-amplitude are coupled to, and precede, the subthalamic nucleus β-trough. The results prompt a model of the basal ganglia-cortical circuit in Parkinson disease incorporating phase-amplitude interactions and abnormal corticosubthalamic feedback and suggest that M1 local field potentials could be used as a control signal for automated programming of basal ganglia stimulators.

Investigation of EEG abnormalities in the early stage of Parkinson's disease

The objective of the present study was to investigate brain activity abnormalities in the early stage of Parkinson's disease (PD). To achieve this goal, eyes-closed resting state electroencephalography (EEG) signals were recorded from 15 early-stage PD patients and 15 age-matched healthy controls. The AR Burg method and the wavelet packet entropy (WPE) method were used to characterize EEG signals in different frequency bands between the groups, respectively. In the case of the AR Burg method, an increase of relative powers in the δ- and θ-band, and a decrease of relative powers in the α- and β-band were observed for patients compared with controls. For the WPE method, EEG signals from patients showed significant higher entropy over the global frequency domain. Furthermore, WPE in the γ-band of patients was higher than that of controls, while WPE in the δ-, θ-, α- and β-band were all lower. All of these changes in EEG dynamics may represent early signs of cortical dysfunction, which have potential use as biomarkers of PD in the early stage. Our findings may be further used for early intervention and early diagnosis of PD.

Basal ganglia activity patterns in parkinsonism and computational modeling of their downstream effects

The availability of suitable animal models and the opportunity to record electrophysiologic data in movement disorder patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures has allowed researchers to investigate parkinsonism-related changes in neuronal firing patterns in the basal ganglia and associated areas of the thalamus and cortex. These studies have shown that parkinsonism is associated with increased activity in the basal ganglia output nuclei, along with increases in burst discharges, oscillatory firing and synchronous firing patterns throughout the basal ganglia. Computational approaches have the potential to play an important role in the interpretation of these data. Such efforts can provide a formalized view of neuronal interactions in the network of connections between the basal ganglia, thalamus, and cortex, allow for the exploration of possible contributions of particular network components to parkinsonism, and potentially result in new conceptual frameworks and hypotheses that can be subjected to biological testing. It has proven very difficult, however, to integrate the wealth of the experimental findings into coherent models of the disease. In this review, we provide an overview of the abnormalities in neuronal activity that have been associated with parkinsonism. Subsequently, we discuss some particular efforts to model the pathophysiologic mechanisms that may link abnormal basal ganglia activity to the cardinal parkinsonian motor signs and may help to explain the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. We emphasize the logical structure of these computational studies, making clear the assumptions from which they proceed and the consequences and predictions that follow from these assumptions.

Equilibrium analysis and phase synchronization of two coupled HR neurons with gap junction

The properties of equilibria and phase synchronization involving burst synchronization and spike synchronization of two electrically coupled HR neurons are studied in this paper. The findings reveal that in the non-delayed system the existence of equilibria can be turned into intersection of two odd functions, and two types of equilibria with symmetry and non-symmetry can be found. With the stability and bifurcation analysis, the bifurcations of equilibria are investigated. For the delayed system, the equilibria remain unchanged. However, the Hopf bifurcation point is drastically affected by time delay. For the phase synchronization, we focus on the synchronization transition from burst synchronization to spike synchronization in the non-delayed system and the effect of coupling strength and time delay on spike synchronization in delayed system. In addition, corresponding firing rhythms and spike synchronized regions are obtained in the two parameters plane. The results allow us to better understand the properties of equilibria, multi-time-scale properties of synchronization and temporal encoding scheme in neuronal systems.

Characterizing effects of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation on methamphetamine-induced circling behavior in hemi-Parkinsonian rats

The unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rat model is frequently used to study the effects of subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, systematic knowledge of the effects of DBS parameters on behavior in this animal model is lacking. The goal of this study was to characterize the effects of DBS on methamphetamine-induced circling in the unilateral 6-OHDA lesioned rat. DBS parameters tested include stimulation amplitude, stimulation frequency, methamphetamine dose, stimulation polarity, and anatomical location of the electrode. When an appropriate stimulation amplitude and dose of methamphetamine were applied, high-frequency stimulation (> 130 Hz), but not low frequency stimulation (< 10 Hz), reversed the bias in ipsilateral circling without inhibiting movement. This characteristic frequency tuning profile was only generated when at least one electrode used during bipolar stimulation was located within the STN. No difference was found between bipolar stimulation and monopolar stimulation when the most effective electrode contact was selected, indicating that monopolar stimulation could be used in future experiments. Methamphetamine-induced circling is a simple, reliable, and sensitive behavioral test and holds potential for high-throughput study of the effects of STN DBS in unilaterally lesioned rats.

β oscillations in the cortico-basal ganglia loop during parkinsonism

In the normal brain beta band oscillatory activity has been associated with retaining of ongoing motor activities. In Parkinson's disease, enhanced beta band oscillatory activity is displayed across the cortico-basal ganglia pathway and is one of the prominent neurophysiological phenomena associated with the disorder. Intraoperative and postoperative recordings of neural activity in patients undergoing stereotactic neurosurgery combined with studies in animal models of parkinsonism have led to the accumulation of complementary data regarding these oscillations. In this review we address some of the key issues facing researchers in the field. These issues encompass existing agreements as well as open debates in modern studies of beta band oscillations, including their defining characteristics, links to clinical symptoms and the functional properties of their formation and effects on behavior. We address these questions by comparing and contrasting the results of neurophysiological observations in human patients, MPTP primate model and 6-OHDA rat model with conceptual and computational models of the normal and parkinsonian basal ganglia. Defining a unifying scheme of beta band oscillations and their relation to neurophysiological, functional and clinical phenomena will enable future targeting of these oscillations for both diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Oscillatory entrainment of subthalamic nucleus neurons and behavioural consequences in rodents and primates

We investigated the functional role of oscillatory activity in the local field potential (LFP) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been postulated that beta (15-30 Hz) oscillatory activity in the basal ganglia induces PD motor symptoms. To assess this hypothesis, an LFP showing significant power in the beta frequency range (23 Hz) was used as a stimulus both in vitro and in vivo. We first demonstrated in rat brain slices that STN neuronal activity was driven by the LFP stimulation. We then applied beta stimulation to the STN of 16 rats and two monkeys while quantifying motor behaviour. Although stimulation-induced behavioural effects were observed, stimulation of the STN at 23 Hz induced no significant decrease in motor performance in either rodents or primates. This study is the first to show LFP-induced behaviour in both rats and primates, and highlights the complex relationship between beta power and parkinsonian symptoms.

What brain signals are suitable for feedback control of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease?

Feedback control of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson's disease has great potential to improve efficacy, reduce side effects, and decrease the cost of treatment. In this, the timing and intensity of stimulation are titrated according to biomarkers that capture current clinical state. Stimulation may be at standard high frequency or intelligently patterned to directly modify specific pathological rhythms. The search for and validation of appropriate feedback signals are therefore crucial. Signals recorded from the DBS electrode currently appear to be the most promising source of feedback. In particular, beta-frequency band oscillations in the local field potential recorded at the stimulation target may capture variation in bradykinesia and rigidity across patients, but this remains to be confirmed within patients. Biomarkers that reliably reflect other impairments, such as tremor, also need to be established. Finally, whether brain signals are causally important needs to be established before stimulation can be specifically patterned rather than delivered at empirically defined high frequency.

γ oscillations in the human basal ganglia

Interest in beta activity in the basal ganglia has mushroomed since it was first identified in the subthalamic nucleus of patients with Parkinson's disease in Jonathan Dostrovsky's landmark paper (Levy et al., 2000). Here we consider a less explored phenomenon; namely gamma frequency synchronisation of neurons in the basal ganglia. Gamma oscillations have been reported in a distributed network involving the basal ganglia, thalamus and motor cortex, and have been described in a wide range of diseases as well as during increased arousal and voluntary movement. In Parkinson's disease, gamma activity is promoted by dopaminergic therapy. These features suggest that its elevation may be involved in the production of movement and this hypothesis is supported by the correlation between the amplitude of gamma activity and limb kinematics. Here we review these data, discuss the functional anatomy of gamma activity in basal ganglia and question how closely it relates to the coding of movement parameters.

Phase response curves of subthalamic neurons measured with synaptic input and current injection

Infinitesimal phase response curves (iPRCs) provide a simple description of the response of repetitively firing neurons and may be used to predict responses to any pattern of synaptic input. Their simplicity makes them useful for understanding the dynamics of neurons when certain conditions are met. For example, the sizes of evoked phase shifts should scale linearly with stimulus strength, and the form of the iPRC should remain relatively constant as firing rate varies. We measured the PRCs of rat subthalamic neurons in brain slices using corticosubthalamic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs; mediated by both AMPA- and NMDA-type receptors) and injected current pulses and used them to calculate the iPRC. These were relatively insensitive to both the size of the stimulus and the cell's firing rate, suggesting that the iPRC can predict the response of subthalamic nucleus cells to extrinsic inputs. However, the iPRC calculated using EPSPs differed from that obtained using current pulses. EPSPs (normalized for charge) were much more effective at altering the phase of subthalamic neurons than current pulses. The difference was not attributable to the extended time course of NMDA receptor-mediated currents, being unaffected by blockade of NMDA receptors. The iPRC provides a good description of subthalamic neurons' response to input, but iPRCs are best estimated using synaptic inputs rather than somatic current injection.

The subcortical hidden side of focal motor seizures: evidence from micro-recordings and local field potentials

Focal motor seizures are characterized by transient motor behaviour that occurs simultaneously with paroxystic activity in the controlateral motor cortex. The implication of the basal ganglia has already been shown for generalized seizure but the propagation pathways from the motor cortex towards the basal ganglia during focal motor seizures are largely unknown. With a better knowledge of those pathways, a therapeutic modulation for reducing drug resistant motor epilepsy could be considered. Here, we recorded single-unit activities and local field potentials in the basal ganglia of two Macaca fascicularis in which acute focal motor seizures were induced by the injection of penicillin over the arm motor cortex territory. Each neuron was characterized using its mean firing rate and its type of firing pattern during interictal periods and seizures. Time-frequency analyses of local field potentials and electroencephalographic signals were used to assess dynamic changes occurring during seizure at a larger spatial level. The firing rate of neurons of input stages of basal ganglia (subthalamic nucleus and putamen) and those from the external part of the globus pallidus were significantly higher during seizures as compared to interictal periods. During seizures, the proportion of oscillatory neurons in subthalamic nucleus (71%), external globus pallidus (45%) and putamen (53%) significantly increased in comparison to interictal periods. Rhythmic activity was synchronized with ictal cortical spikes in external globus pallidus and subthalamic nucleus, but not in the putamen which oscillated faster than motor cortex. In contrast, no significant modification of the firing rate of the output stages of basal ganglia (internal part of the globus pallidus, substantia nigra pars reticulata) could be found during seizures. The local field potentials of subthalamic nucleus and external globus pallidus changed abruptly at the onset of the seizure, showing synchronization with the cortical activity throughout the seizure. In putamen, the synchronization appeared only by the end of seizures and for the two output structures, despite some increase of the oscillatory activity, the synchronization with the cortex was not significant. Our results suggest that the subthalamo-(external)-pallidal pathway is the main subcortical route involved during ictal motor seizures. Surprisingly, ictal activity did not propagate to the output structure of basal ganglia in that model. This finding may be important for clinical decisions of targeting when considering anti-epileptic neuromodulation in human beings suffering from disabling, drug resistant motor epilepsy.

Simulation of cortico-basal ganglia oscillations and their suppression by closed loop deep brain stimulation

A new model of deep brain stimulation (DBS) is presented that integrates volume conduction effects with a neural model of pathological beta-band oscillations in the cortico-basal ganglia network. The model is used to test the clinical hypothesis that closed-loop control of the amplitude of DBS may be possible, based on the average rectified value of beta-band oscillations in the local field potential. Simulation of closed-loop high-frequency DBS was shown to yield energy savings, with the magnitude of the energy saved dependent on the strength of coupling between the subthalamic nucleus and the remainder of the cortico-basal ganglia network. When closed-loop DBS was applied to a strongly coupled cortico-basal ganglia network, the stimulation energy delivered over a 480 s period was reduced by up to 42%. Greater energy reductions were observed for weakly coupled networks, as the stimulation amplitude reduced to zero once the initial desynchronization had occurred. The results provide support for the application of closed-loop high-frequency DBS based on electrophysiological biomarkers.

Reinforcement-Based Decision Making in Corticostriatal Circuits: Mutual Constraints by Neurocomputational and Diffusion Models

In this letter, we examine the computational mechanisms of reinforce-ment-based decision making. We bridge the gap across multiple levels of analysis, from neural models of corticostriatal circuits—the basal ganglia (BG) model (Frank, 2005 , 2006 ) to simpler but mathematically tractable diffusion models of two-choice decision making. Specifically, we generated simulated data from the BG model and fit the diffusion model (Ratcliff, 1978 ) to it. The standard diffusion model fits underestimated response times under conditions of high response and reinforcement conflict. Follow-up fits showed good fits to the data both by increasing nondecision time and by raising decision thresholds as a function of conflict and by allowing this threshold to collapse with time. This profile captures the role and dynamics of the subthalamic nucleus in BG circuitry, and as such, parametric modulations of projection strengths from this nucleus were associated with parametric increases in decision boundary and its modulation by conflict. We then present data from a human reinforcement learning experiment involving decisions with low- and high-reinforcement conflict. Again, the standard model failed to fit the data, but we found that two variants similar to those that fit the BG model data fit the experimental data, thereby providing a convergence of theoretical accounts of complex interactive decision-making mechanisms consistent with available data. This work also demonstrates how to make modest modifications to diffusion models to summarize core computations of the BG model. The result is a better fit and understanding of reinforcement-based choice data than that which would have occurred with either model alone.

Stereotactic microdialysis of the basal ganglia in Parkinson's disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an efficacious treatment in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, yet the mechanisms of STN DBS are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to develop a useful method for studying neurotransmitter alterations during DBS and for the pharmacokinetics of L-dopa in brain tissue. Ten patients with Parkinson's disease participated, whereof two had no previous L-dopa medication. The electrodes and catheters were placed using MRI-guided stereotaxic targeting. Two microdialysis probes were placed, one in the right internal globus pallidus, and one in a brachial vein. The quadripolar deep brain electrodes were placed in the right STN. Microdialysates from brain tissue and blood were collected in 15-min fractions at baseline and during DBS. After stimulation new baseline fractions were taken and finally three fractions during continuous intravenous infusion of L-dopa. Clinical evaluation showed that both DBS and L-dopa infusion gave good relief of rigidity and tremor in all ten patients. During DBS the L-dopa levels in the brain increased in some of the patients but did not persist during the whole stimulation period. The concentration in brain increased substantially during intravenous L-dopa infusion. A number of catecholamines and their metabolites were analysed with high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). With our study we could show that this model is suitable for the monitoring of neurotransmitters and for pharmacokinetic studies in human brain, although we found that the sampling time was too short to follow the possible alterations in brain activity caused by DBS.

Cerebral causes and consequences of parkinsonian resting tremor: a tale of two circuits?

Tremor in Parkinson's disease has several mysterious features. Clinically, tremor is seen in only three out of four patients with Parkinson's disease, and tremor-dominant patients generally follow a more benign disease course than non-tremor patients. Pathophysiologically, tremor is linked to altered activity in not one, but two distinct circuits: the basal ganglia, which are primarily affected by dopamine depletion in Parkinson's disease, and the cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit, which is also involved in many other tremors. The purpose of this review is to integrate these clinical and pathophysiological features of tremor in Parkinson's disease. We first describe clinical and pathological differences between tremor-dominant and non-tremor Parkinson's disease subtypes, and then summarize recent studies on the pathophysiology of tremor. We also discuss a newly proposed ‘dimmer-switch model’ that explains tremor as resulting from the combined actions of two circuits: the basal ganglia that trigger tremor episodes and the cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit that produces the tremor. Finally, we address several important open questions: why resting tremor stops during voluntary movements, why it has a variable response to dopaminergic treatment, why it indicates a benign Parkinson's disease subtype and why its expression decreases with disease progression.

Using point process models to describe rhythmic spiking in the subthalamic nucleus of Parkinson's patients

Neurological disease is often associated with changes in firing activity in specific brain areas. Accurate statistical models of neural spiking can provide insight into the mechanisms by which the disease develops and clinical symptoms manifest. Point process theory provides a powerful framework for constructing, fitting, and evaluating the quality of neural spiking models. We illustrate an application of point process modeling to the problem of characterizing abnormal oscillatory firing patterns of neurons in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We characterize the firing properties of these neurons by constructing conditional intensity models using spline basis functions that relate the spiking of each neuron to movement variables and the neuron's past firing history, both at short and long time scales. By calculating maximum likelihood estimators for all of the parameters and their significance levels, we are able to describe the relative propensity of aberrant STN spiking in terms of factors associated with voluntary movements, with intrinsic properties of the neurons, and factors that may be related to dysregulated network dynamics.

Frequency selectivity and dopamine-dependence of plasticity at glutamatergic synapses in the subthalamic nucleus

In Parkinson's disease, subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons burst fire with increased periodicity and synchrony. This may entail abnormal release of glutamate, the major source of which in STN is cortical afferents. Indeed, the cortico-subthalamic pathway is implicated in the emergence of excessive oscillations, which are reduced, as are symptoms, by dopamine-replacement therapy or deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeted to STN. Here we hypothesize that glutamatergic synapses in the STN may be differentially modulated by low-frequency stimulation (LFS) and high-frequency stimulation (HFS), the latter mimicking deep brain stimulation. Recordings of evoked and spontaneous excitatory post synaptic currents (EPSCs) were made from STN neurons in brain slices obtained from dopamine-intact and chronically dopamine-depleted adult rats. HFS had no significant effect on evoked (e) EPSC amplitude in dopamine-intact slices (104.4±8.0%) but depressed eEPSCs in dopamine-depleted slices (67.8±6.2%). Conversely, LFS potentiated eEPSCs in dopamine-intact slices (126.4±8.1%) but not in dopamine-depleted slices (106.7±10.0%). Analyses of paired-pulse ratio, coefficient of variation, and spontaneous EPSCs suggest that the depression and potentiation have a presynaptic locus of expression. These results indicate that the synaptic efficacy in dopamine-intact tissue is enhanced by LFS. Furthermore, the synaptic efficacy in dopamine-depleted tissue is depressed by HFS. Therefore the therapeutic effects of DBS in Parkinson's disease appear mediated, in part, by glutamatergic cortico-subthalamic synaptic depression and implicate dopamine-dependent increases in the weight of glutamate synapses, which would facilitate the transfer of pathological oscillations from the cortex.

Transient and state modulation of beta power in human subthalamic nucleus during speech production and finger movement

Signs of Parkinson's disease (PD) are augmented by speech and repetitive motor tasks. The neurophysiological basis for this phenomenon is unknown, but may involve augmentation of β (13-30 Hz) oscillations within the subthalamic nucleus (STN). We hypothesized that speech and motor tasks increase β power in STN and propose a mechanism for clinical observations of worsening motor state during such behaviors. Subjects undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery performed tasks while STN local field potential (LFP) data were collected. Power in the β frequency range was analyzed across the entire recording to observe slow shifts related to block design and during time epochs synchronized to behavior to evaluate immediate fluctuations related to task execution. Bilaterally symmetric β event related desynchronization was observed in analysis time-locked to subject motor and speech tasks. We also observed slow shifts of β power associated with blocks of tasks. Repetitive combined speech and motor, and isolated motor blocks were associated with the highest bilateral β power state. Overt speech alone and imagined speech were associated with a low bilateral β power state. Thus, changing behavioral tasks is associated with bilateral switching of β power states. This offers a potential neurophysiologic correlate of worsened PD motor signs experienced during clinical examination with provocative tasks: switching into a high β power state may be responsible for worsening motor states in PD patients when performing unilateral repetitive motor tasks and combined speech and motor tasks. Beta state changes could be chronically measured and potentially used to control closed loop neuromodulatory devices in the future.

Relative contributions of local cell and passing fiber activation and silencing to changes in thalamic fidelity during deep brain stimulation and lesioning: a computational modeling study

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) and lesioning are two surgical techniques used in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients whose symptoms are not well controlled by drugs, or who experience dyskinesias as a side effect of medications. Although these treatments have been widely practiced, the mechanisms behind DBS and lesioning are still not well understood. The subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus pars interna (GPi) are two common targets for both DBS and lesioning. Previous studies have indicated that DBS not only affects local cells within the target, but also passing axons within neighboring regions. Using a computational model of the basal ganglia-thalamic network, we studied the relative contributions of activation and silencing of local cells (LCs) and fibers of passage (FOPs) to changes in the accuracy of information transmission through the thalamus (thalamic fidelity), which is correlated with the effectiveness of DBS. Activation of both LCs and FOPs during STN and GPi-DBS were beneficial to the outcome of stimulation. During STN and GPi lesioning, effects of silencing LCs and FOPs were different between the two types of lesioning. For STN lesioning, silencing GPi FOPs mainly contributed to its effectiveness, while silencing only STN LCs did not improve thalamic fidelity. In contrast, silencing both GPi LCs and GPe FOPs during GPi lesioning contributed to improvements in thalamic fidelity. Thus, two distinct mechanisms produced comparable improvements in thalamic function: driving the output of the basal ganglia to produce tonic inhibition and silencing the output of the basal ganglia to produce tonic disinhibition. These results show the importance of considering effects of activating or silencing fibers passing close to the nucleus when deciding upon a target location for DBS or lesioning.

The effect of striatal dopaminergic grafts on the neuronal activity in the substantia nigra pars reticulata and subthalamic nucleus in hemiparkinsonian rats

The electrophysiological correlates of parkinsonism in the basal ganglia have been well studied in patients with Parkinson's disease and animal models. Separately, striatal dopaminergic cell transplantation has shown promise in ameliorating parkinsonian motor symptoms. However, the effect of dopaminergic grafts on basal ganglia electrophysiology has not thoroughly been investigated. In this study, we transplanted murine foetal ventral mesencephalic cells into rats rendered hemiparkinsonian by 6-hydroxydopamine injection. Three months after transplantation, extracellular and local field potential recordings were taken under urethane anaesthesia from the substantia nigra pars reticulata and subthalamic nucleus along with cortical electroencephalograms and were compared to recordings from normal and hemiparkinsonian controls. Recordings from cortical slow-wave activity and global activation states were analysed separately. Rats with histologically confirmed xenografts showed behavioural improvement measured by counting apomorphine-induced rotations and with the extended body axis test. Firing rates in both nuclei were not significantly different between control and grafted groups. However, burst firing patterns in both nuclei in the slow-wave activity state were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in rats with large surviving grafts, compared to hemiparkinsonian controls. The neuronal firing entropies and oscillations in both nuclei were restored to normal levels in the large-graft group. Electroencephalogram spike-triggered averages also showed normalization in the slow-wave activity state (P < 0.05). These results suggest that local continuous dopaminergic stimulation exerts a normalizing effect on the downstream parkinsonian basal ganglia firing patterns. This novel finding is relevant to future preclinical and clinical investigations of cell transplantation and the development of next-generation therapies for Parkinson's disease that ameliorate pathophysiological neural activity and provide optimal recovery of function.

Ketamine-induced oscillations in the motor circuit of the rat basal ganglia

Oscillatory activity can be widely recorded in the cortex and basal ganglia. This activity may play a role not only in the physiology of movement, perception and cognition, but also in the pathophysiology of psychiatric and neurological diseases like schizophrenia or Parkinson's disease. Ketamine administration has been shown to cause an increase in gamma activity in cortical and subcortical structures, and an increase in 150 Hz oscillations in the nucleus accumbens in healthy rats, together with hyperlocomotion.We recorded local field potentials from motor cortex, caudate-putamen (CPU), substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) in 20 awake rats before and after the administration of ketamine at three different subanesthetic doses (10, 25 and 50 mg/Kg), and saline as control condition. Motor behavior was semiautomatically quantified by custom-made software specifically developed for this setting.Ketamine induced coherent oscillations in low gamma (~ 50 Hz), high gamma (~ 80 Hz) and high frequency (HFO, ~ 150 Hz) bands, with different behavior in the four structures studied. While oscillatory activity at these three peaks was widespread across all structures, interactions showed a different pattern for each frequency band. Imaginary coherence at 150 Hz was maximum between motor cortex and the different basal ganglia nuclei, while low gamma coherence connected motor cortex with CPU and high gamma coherence was more constrained to the basal ganglia nuclei. Power at three bands correlated with the motor activity of the animal, but only coherence values in the HFO and high gamma range correlated with movement. Interactions in the low gamma band did not show a direct relationship to movement.These results suggest that the motor effects of ketamine administration may be primarily mediated by the induction of coherent widespread high-frequency activity in the motor circuit of the basal ganglia, together with a frequency-specific pattern of connectivity among the structures analyzed.

Pathological basal ganglia activity in movement disorders

Our understanding of the pathophysiology of movement disorders and associated changes in basal ganglia activities has significantly changed during the last few decades. This process began with the development of detailed anatomical models of the basal ganglia, followed by studies of basal ganglia activity patterns in animal models of common movement disorders and electrophysiological recordings in movement disorder patients undergoing functional neurosurgical procedures. These investigations first resulted in an appreciation of global activity changes in the basal ganglia in parkinsonism and other disorders, and later in the detailed description of pathological basal ganglia activity patterns, specifically burst patterns and oscillatory synchronous discharge of basal ganglia neurons. In this review, we critically summarize our current knowledge of the pathological discharge patterns of basal ganglia neurons in Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and dyskinesias.

Pallidal dysfunction drives a cerebellothalamic circuit into Parkinson tremor

OBJECTIVE

Parkinson disease (PD) is characterized by striatal dopamine depletion, which explains clinical symptoms such as bradykinesia and rigidity, but not resting tremor. Instead, resting tremor is associated with increased activity in a distinct cerebellothalamic circuit. To date, it remains unknown how the interplay between basal ganglia and the cerebellothalamic circuit can result in resting tremor.

METHODS

We studied 21 tremor-dominant PD patients, 23 nontremor PD patients, and 36 controls. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured functional connectivity between basal ganglia nuclei (globus pallidus internus [GPi], globus pallidus externus [GPe], putamen, caudate) and the cerebellothalamic circuit. Using electromyography during scanning, we measured tremor-related activity in the basal ganglia and cerebellothalamic circuit. We also quantified striatopallidal dopamine depletion using iodine-123-N-omega-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)tropane [[I-123]FP-CIT] single photon emission computed tomography.

RESULTS

Pallidal (but not striatal) dopamine depletion correlated with clinical tremor severity. The GPi, GPe, and putamen were transiently activated at the onset of tremor episodes, whereas activity in the cerebellothalamic circuit cofluctuated with tremor amplitude. The GPi and putamen of tremor-dominant PD patients had increased functional connectivity with the cerebellothalamic circuit, which was relegated through the motor cortex.

INTERPRETATION

Resting tremor may result from a pathological interaction between the basal ganglia and the cerebellothalamic circuit. The cerebellothalamic circuit, which controls tremor amplitude, appears to be driven into tremor generation when receiving transient signals from the dopamine-depleted basal ganglia. This may explain why basal ganglia dysfunction is required for developing resting tremor, although a cerebellothalamic circuit produces it. Our model also clarifies why neurosurgical interventions targeted at either the basal ganglia or the cerebellothalamic circuit can both suppress tremor.

Basal ganglia dysfunction in OCD: subthalamic neuronal activity correlates with symptoms severity and predicts high-frequency stimulation efficacy

Functional and connectivity changes in corticostriatal systems have been reported in the brains of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); however, the relationship between basal ganglia activity and OCD severity has never been adequately established. We recently showed that deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), a central basal ganglia nucleus, improves OCD. Here, single-unit subthalamic neuronal activity was analysed in 12 OCD patients, in relation to the severity of obsessions and compulsions and response to STN stimulation, and compared with that obtained in 12 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). STN neurons in OCD patients had lower discharge frequency than those in PD patients, with a similar proportion of burst-type activity (69 vs 67%). Oscillatory activity was present in 46 and 68% of neurons in OCD and PD patients, respectively, predominantly in the low-frequency band (1-8 Hz). In OCD patients, the bursty and oscillatory subthalamic neuronal activity was mainly located in the associative-limbic part. Both OCD severity and clinical improvement following STN stimulation were related to the STN neuronal activity. In patients with the most severe OCD, STN neurons exhibited bursts with shorter duration and interburst interval, but higher intraburst frequency, and more oscillations in the low-frequency bands. In patients with best clinical outcome with STN stimulation, STN neurons displayed higher mean discharge, burst and intraburst frequencies, and lower interburst interval. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis of a dysfunction in the associative-limbic subdivision of the basal ganglia circuitry in OCD's pathophysiology.

Milestones in research on the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease

Progress in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the cardinal motor abnormalities of Parkinson's disease (PD), in particular akinesia and bradykinesia and their treatment, has been remarkable. Notable accomplishments include insights into the functional organization of the basal ganglia and their place in the motor system as components of a family of parallel cortico-subcortical circuits that subserve motor and nonmotor functions and the development of models of the intrinsic organization of the basal ganglia, including delineation of the so-called direct, indirect, and hyperdirect pathways. Studies in primate models of PD have provided insight into the alterations of neuronal activity that are responsible for the motor features of PD, revealing both altered tonic levels of discharge and significant disturbances of the patterns of discharge throughout the motor circuitry and have led to the formulation of circuit models of PD, providing testable hypotheses for research and stimulating the development of new therapies. Most importantly, the discovery that lesions of the subthalamic nucleus, a key node of the indirect pathway, abolish the cardinal features of PD contributed to the renaissance in the use of surgical approaches to treating patients with PD, including ablation and deep brain stimulation.

Electrophysiological evidences of organization of cortical motor information in the Basal Ganglia

During the last two decades, the many developments in the treatment of movement disorders such as Parkinson disease and dystonia have enhanced our understanding on organization of the basal ganglia, and this knowledge has led to other advances in the field. According to many electrophysiological and anatomical findings, it is considered that motor information from different cortical areas is processed through several cortico-basal ganglia loops principally in a parallel fashion and somatotopy from each cortical area is also well preserved in each loop. Moreover, recent studies suggest that not only the parallel processing but also some convergence of information occur through the basal ganglia. Information from cortical areas whose functions are close to each other tends to converge in the basal ganglia. The cortico-basal ganglia loops should be comprehended more as a network rather than as separated subdivisions. However, the functions of this convergence still remain unknown. It is important even for clinical doctors to be well informed about this kind of current knowledge because some symptoms of movement disorders may be explained by disorganization of the information network in the basal ganglia.

Kinematic optimization of deep brain stimulation across multiple motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms including tremor and bradykinesia (slowness of movement). Drug treatment, although capable of controlling these symptoms over a number of years, becomes less effective as the disease progresses and leads to motor complications such as drug-induced dyskinesia (involuntary abnormal movements). Deep brain stimulation (DBS) provides an alternative means of controlling motor symptoms in these patients, and while DBS has been effective in improving motor symptoms, these improvements are largely based on accurate placement of the lead and the ability of medical personnel to adequately program the DBS device following implantation. While guidelines exist for DBS programming, selection of stimulation parameters and patient outcome is greatly dependent on subjective clinical assessments and the experience of the medical personnel performing the programming. The aim of this project was to assess the feasibility of using a quantitative and objective approach to programming. Two subjects underwent standard procedures for DBS programming while wearing a small, compact motion sensor. Kinematic data were collected from subjects as they completed motor tasks to evaluate DBS efficacy. Quantitative variables characterizing tremor and bradykinesia were related to stimulation parameters. Results indicated different stimulation settings might be required for optimal improvement of different motor symptoms. A standardized method of programming DBS parameters utilizing motion analysis may provide an objective method of assessment that the programmer can use to better identify stimulation parameters to achieve optimal improvement across multiple motor symptoms.

Chaotic phase synchronization in small-world networks of bursting neurons

We investigate the chaotic phase synchronization in a system of coupled bursting neurons in small-world networks. A transition to mutual phase synchronization takes place on the bursting time scale of coupled oscillators, while on the spiking time scale, they behave asynchronously. It is shown that phase synchronization is largely facilitated by a large fraction of shortcuts, but saturates when it exceeds a critical value. We also study the external chaotic phase synchronization of bursting oscillators in the small-world network by a periodic driving signal applied to a single neuron. It is demonstrated that there exists an optimal small-world topology, resulting in the largest peak value of frequency locking interval in the parameter plane, where bursting synchronization is maintained, even with the external driving. The width of this interval increases with the driving amplitude, but decrease rapidly with the network size. We infer that the externally applied driving parameters outside the frequency locking region can effectively suppress pathologically synchronized rhythms of bursting neurons in the brain.

Nigrostriatal denervation changes the effect of cannabinoids on subthalamic neuronal activity in rats

RATIONALE

It is known that dopaminergic cell loss leads to increased endogenous cannabinoid levels and CB1 receptor density.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of dopaminergic cell loss, induced by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine, on the effects exerted by cannabinoid agonists on neuron activity in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of anesthetized rats.

RESULTS

We have previously shown that Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC) and anandamide induce both stimulation and inhibition of STN neuron activity and that endocannabinoids mediate tonic control of STN activity. Here, we show that in intact rats, the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 stimulated all recorded STN neurons. Conversely, after dopaminergic depletion, WIN 55,212-2, Δ(9)-THC, or anandamide inhibited the STN firing rate without altering its discharge pattern, and stimulatory effects were not observed. Moreover, anandamide exerted a more intense inhibitory effect in lesioned rats in comparison to control rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Cannabinoids induce different effects on the STN depending on the integrity of the nigrostriatal pathway. These findings advance our understanding of the role of cannabinoids in diseases involving dopamine deficits.