Biophysical characterization of local field potential recordings from directional deep brain stimulation electrodes

Two major advances in clinical deep brain stimulation (DBS) technology have been the introduction of local field potential (LFP) recording capabilities, and the deployment of directional DBS electrodes. However, these two technologies are not operationally integrated within current clinical DBS devices. Therefore, we evaluated the theoretical advantages of using directional DBS electrodes for LFP recordings, with a focus on measuring beta-band activity in the subthalamic nucleus (STN).

We used a computational model of human STN neural activity to simulate LFP recordings. The model consisted of 235,280 anatomically and electrically detailed STN neurons surrounding the DBS electrode, which was previously optimized to mimic beta-band synchrony in the dorsolateral STN. We then used that model system to compare LFP recordings from cylindrical and directional DBS contacts, and evaluate how the selection of different contacts for bipolar recording affected the LFP measurements.

The model predicted two advantages of directional DBS electrodes over cylindrical DBS electrodes for STN LFP recording. First, recording from directional contacts could provide additional insight on the location of a synchronous volume of neurons within the STN. Second, directional contacts could detect a smaller volume of synchronous neurons than cylindrical contacts, which our simulations predicted to be a ~0.5 mm minimum radius.

STN LFP recordings from 8-contact directional DBS electrodes (28 possible bipolar pairs) can provide more information than 4-contact cylindrical DBS electrodes (6 possible bipolar pairs), but they also introduce additional complexity in analyzing the signals.

Integration of directional electrodes with DBS systems that are capable of LFP recordings could improve localization of targeted volumes of synchronous neurons in PD patients.