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Updated: Oct 17, 2025
Measurement & Analysis of the Temporal Discrimination Threshold Applied to Cervical Dystonia
Published on: January 27, 2018
Pallidal neuron activity determines responsiveness to deep brain stimulation in cervical dystonia
Alexey Sedov1, Valentin Popov2, Anna Gamaleya3
1Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia.
Objective:
In patients with cervical dystonia we sought for the differences in neuronal behavior of pallidal regions where deep brain stimulation resulted in favorable therapeutic response compared to those where the response was absent.
Methods:
We compared single-unit activity of 564 neurons recorded from deep brain stimulation sensitive and non-sensitive regions in 17 cervical dystonia patients.
Results:
Globus pallidus internus regions responsive to the deep brain stimulation had lower firing rates and bursting compared to non-responsive areas. The differences were robust in locations where neuronal responses correlated with neck movements. Per the effects of deep brain stimulation, the pallidal regions were classified in weak, intermediate, and excellent responsive. Pallidal regions with weak response to deep brain stimulation had fewer burst neurons and higher firing rate compared to neurons in areas with excellent response. The burst index was significantly decreased in excellent response regions. There was a significant decrease in the alpha band oscillation score but a substantial increase in the gamma band in excellent response neurons.
Conclusion:
The pallidal region that would be responsive to deep brain stimulation has distinct physiology compared to the non-responsive region.
Significance:
These results provide novel insights into globus pallidus interna neurons' physiology in cervical dystonia.
