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Asynchronous Distributed Multielectrode Microstimulation Reduces Seizures in the Dorsal Tetanus Toxin Model of
Sharanya Arcot Desai1, John D Rolston2, Courtney E McCracken3
1The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA; Laboratory for Neuroengineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA.
Brain Stimulation
|November 27, 2015
Summary
Distributed multielectrode microstimulation (DMM) shows promise for epilepsy treatment. Asynchronous theta-range stimulation effectively reduced seizures by 46% in a rat model.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Electrical brain stimulation is a potential treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy.
- The full potential of stimulation parameters and electrode types for seizure control remains unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that distributed multielectrode microstimulation (DMM) at the epileptic focus can reduce seizure frequency.
- To investigate DMM in the tetanus toxin model of temporal lobe epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- DMM involved delivering electrical stimulation through 15 microelectrodes (33-µm diameter) at the epileptic focus (dorsal hippocampus) in rats.
- Stimulation parameters included biphasic, theta-range (6-12 Hz) pulses delivered asynchronously.
Main Results:
- Hippocampal theta oscillations were decreased in the epilepsy model.
- Asynchronous theta-range DMM reduced seizure frequency by 46% (p < 0.05).
- Synchronous stimulation, continuous stimulation, or single macroelectrode stimulation showed no effect; high-frequency stimulation tended to increase seizures.
Conclusions:
- DMM represents a novel and effective approach for therapeutic brain stimulation in epilepsy.
- Specific stimulation parameters (asynchronous, theta-range) are crucial for seizure reduction.
