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Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Deep Brain Stimulation with Simultaneous fMRI in Rodents
Published on: February 15, 2014
Intermuscular coherence as biomarker for pallidal deep brain stimulation efficacy in dystonia
E Doldersum1, J C van Zijl1, M Beudel2
1Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands.
Objective:
Finding a non-invasive biomarker for Globus Pallidus interna Deep Brain Stimulation (GPi-DBS) efficacy. Dystonia heterogeneity leads to a wide variety of clinical response to GPi-DBS, making it hard to predict GPi-DBS efficacy for individual patients.
Methods:
EEG-EMG recordings of twelve dystonia patients who received bilateral GPi-DBS took place pre- and 1 year post-surgery ON and OFF stimulation, during a rest, pinch, and flexion task. Dystonia severity was assessed using the BFMDRS and TWSTRS (pre- and post-surgery ON stimulation). Intermuscular coherence (IMC) and motorcortex corticomuscular coherence (CMC) were calculated. Low frequency (4-12 Hz) and beta band (13-30 Hz) peak coherences were studied.
Results:
Dystonia severity improved after 1 year GPi-DBS therapy (BFMDRS: 30%, median 7.8 (IQR 3-10), TWSTRS: 22%, median 6.8 (IQR 4-9)). 86% of IMC were above the 95% confidence limit. The highest IMC peak decreased significantly with GPi-DBS in the low frequency and beta band. Low frequency and beta band IMC correlated partly with dystonia severity and severity improvement. CMC generally were below the 95% confidence limit.
Conclusions:
Peak low frequency IMC functioned as biomarker for GPi-DBS efficacy, and partly correlated with dystonia severity.
Significance:
IMC can function as biomarker. Confirmation in a larger study is needed for use in clinical practice.
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