White matter connectivity of subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus interna targets for deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus interna (GPi) have differential therapeutic effects for Parkinson's disease (PD) that drive patient selection. For example, GPi DBS is preferred for dystonic features and dyskinesia, whereas STN DBS has shown faster tremor control and medication reduction. Connectivity studies comparing these two targets, using patient-specific data, are still lacking. The objective was to find STN and GPi structural connectivity patterns in order to better understand differences in DBS-activated brain circuits between these two stimulation targets and to guide optimal contact selection.

The authors simulated DBS activation along the main axis of both the STN and GPi by using volume of activated tissue (VAT) modeling with known average stimulation parameters (2.8 V and 60 μsec for STN; 3.3 V and 90 μsec for GPi). The authors modeled VATs in the anterior, middle, and posterior STN and the anterior, midanterior, midposterior, and posterior GPi. The authors generated maps of the connections shared by the patients for each VAT by using probabilistic tractography of diffusion-weighted imaging data obtained in 46 PD patients who underwent DBS (26 with STN and 20 with GPi targeting), and differences between VATs for whole-brain and distal regions of interest (prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, primary motor cortex, primary sensory cortex, caudate, motor thalamus, and cerebellum) were generated from structural atlases. Differences between maps were quantified and compared.

VATs across the STN and GPi had different structural connectivity patterns. The authors found significant connectivity differences between VATs for all regions of interest. Posterior and middle STN showed stronger connectivity to the primary motor cortex and supplementary motor area (SMA) (p < 0.001). Posterior STN had the strongest connectivity to the primary sensory cortex and motor thalamus (p < 0.001). Posterior GPi showed stronger connectivity to the primary motor cortex (p < 0.001). Connectivity to the SMA was similar for the posterior and midposterior GPi (p > 0.05), which was greater than that for the anterior GPi (p < 0.001). When both nuclei were compared, posterior and middle STN had stronger connectivity to the SMA, cerebellum, and motor thalamus than GPi (all p < 0.001). Posterior GPi and STN had similar connectivity to the primary sensory cortex.

On patient-specific imaging, structural connectivity differences existed between GPi and STN DBS, as measured with standardized electrical field modeling of the DBS targets. These connectivity differences may correlate with the differential clinical benefits obtained by targeting each of the two nuclei with DBS for PD. Prospective work is needed to relate these differences to clinical outcomes and to inform targeting and programming.