Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2025
Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Rat Hippocampus After Deep Brain Stimulation of the Anterior Thalamic Nucleus
Published on: March 8, 2015
Effects of Low-Frequency Deep Brain Stimulation in Bilateral Zona Incerta for a Patient With Tremor and Cerebellar
Ami Kumar1,2, Kristen L Matulis1,2, Zena A Fadel2,3
1Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA.
Background:
Whether low-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the caudal zona incerta (cZi) can improve cerebellar ataxia symptoms remains unexplored.
Case Report:
We report a 66-year-old man initially diagnosed with essential tremor and subsequently developed cerebellar ataxia after bilateral cZi DBS implantation. We tested the effects of low-frequency DBS stimulations (sham, 10 Hz, 15 Hz, 30 Hz) on ataxia severity.
Discussion:
Low-frequency cZi DBS improves ataxic speech at 30 Hz, but not at 10 Hz or 15 Hz in this patient. Low-frequency DBS did not improve gait or stance. Therefore, low-frequency stimulation may play a role in treating ataxic speech.
Highlights:
The finding of this case study suggests that bilateral low-frequency DBS at 30 Hz in the caudal zona incerta has the potential to improve ataxic speech but has limited impact on gait and stance. The involvement of zona incerta in speech warrants further investigation.
