Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025

Intra-Operative Behavioral Tasks in Awake Humans Undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery
Published on: January 6, 2011
What is the effect of benzodiazepines on deep brain activity? A study in pediatric patients with dystonia
Estefania Hernandez-Martin1, Jessica S L Vidmark2, Jennifer A MacLean3
1Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States.
Introduction:
Benzodiazepines (BDZs) are commonly used to treat the symptoms of movement disorders; however, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become a popular treatment for these disorders. Previous studies have investigated the effects of BDZ on cortical activity, no data are currently available on their effects on deep brain regions, nor on these regions' responses to DBS. How the BDZ affects the thalamus and basal ganglia in dystonia patients remains unknown.
Methods:
DBS recordings were performed in ventral oralis anterior/posterior (VoaVop), ventral intermediate (VIM) and ventral anterior (VA) thalamic subnuclei, as well as globus pallidus interna (GPi) and subthalamic nucleus (STN). Evoked potentials (EP) and frequency domain analysis were performed to determine the BDZ effect on neural activities compared to the control condition (off-BDZ). Three male pediatric patients with dystonia treated with BDZ and undergoing depth electrode evaluation for clinical targeting were recruited for the study. Stimulation was administered at 25 and 55 Hz frequencies and recordings were simultaneously gathered through pairs of externalized stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) electrodes. EP amplitude and the effect of stimulation on the frequency spectrum of activity were compared at baseline and following clinical administration of BDZ.
Results:
Frequency analysis showed consistent reductions in activity during BDZ treatment in all studied brain regions for all patients. Evoked potential (EP) analysis showed increased subthalamic nucleus (STN) EP amplitude and decreased ventral intermediate (VIM) and STN EP amplitude during BDZ treatment.
Interpretation:
BDZs reduce thalamic and basal ganglia activity in multiple regions and alter the efficacy of transmission between these regions. While the mechanism is unknown our results confirm the known widespread effects of this class of medications and identify specific areas within the motor system that are directly affected.
More Related Videos
10:41Implantation of Osmotic Pumps and Induction of Stress to Establish a Symptomatic, Pharmacological Mouse Model for DYT/PARK-ATP1A3 Dystonia
Published on: September 12, 2020
09:16A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Published on: January 22, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines
Depolarizing Blockers: Pharmocokinetics
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects
Unlike...
Directly Acting Muscle Relaxants: Dantrolene and Botulinum Toxin
The binding of dantrolene to the RYR1...