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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Microelectrode Guided Implantation of Electrodes into the Subthalamic Nucleus of Rats for Long-term Deep Brain Stimulation
Published on: October 2, 2015
Subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease: correlation of active electrode contacts with intraoperative
W Hamel1, U Fietzek, A Morsnowski
1Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany. patten@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Background/Aims:
The most effective site for subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation has remained unclear. The position of active contacts relative to the dorsal margin of the STN was determined.
Methods:
Electrodes (n = 49) were implanted following STN mapping by microrecording and microstimulation along five tracks (n = 25 patients). The stereotactic position of active contacts was determined and correlated with microrecordings using an algorithm for direct three-dimensional comparisons (n = 37).
Results:
Most active contacts were detected within +/-1.0 mm from the dorsal margin of the STN as defined by microrecording (32.4%) or farther dorsal in the subthalamic area (37.8%), and only 29.7% were localized to the STN proper. This was consistent with the average stereotactic coordinates of the active contacts in these three groups.
Conclusion:
Our data suggest that the dorsal border area of the STN is the most effective target. Besides the dorsolateral STN (sensorimotor part) this may include projections from/to STN, the zona incerta, and pallidofugal projections in the fields of Forel.
