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Brain (Hyper)Excitability Revealed by Optimal Electrical Stimulation of GABAergic Interneurons
F Wendling1, U Gerber2, D Cosandier-Rimele3
1INSERM U1099, LTSI, Rennes, France; Université de Rennes 1, LTSI, Rennes, France.
Brain Stimulation
|August 31, 2016
Summary
A new method using electrical stimulation (ELBS) and a neural network excitability index (NNEI) can assess GABAergic interneuron function and identify hyperexcitable brain regions in neurological disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Biophysics
Background:
- Neurological disorders often involve an imbalance between neural excitation and inhibition.
- Disrupted function of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons is a common finding in these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel electrical extracellular, local, bipolar stimulation (ELBS) procedure.
- To evaluate the inhibitory efficacy of GABAergic interneurons on pyramidal cells using evoked responses in local field potentials (LFPs).
Main Methods:
- Computational modeling of ELBS effects on neuronal populations.
- In vivo and in vitro electrophysiological recordings.
- Analysis of stimulation parameters (intensity, frequency) and their impact on evoked responses.
Main Results:
- ELBS, when appropriately tuned, preferentially activates GABAergic interneurons.
- A quantitative neural network excitability index (NNEI) was developed from LFPs.
- NNEI successfully identified hyperexcitable regions in epilepsy patients.
Conclusions:
- Well-tuned ELBS and NNEI provide a method to probe brain regions.
- This approach can quantify the excitability of brain tissue, aiding in the study of neurological disorders.
