Mechanisms of disorders of consciousness based on source-level microstate characteristics under deep brain...

Improving the efficacy of neuroregulatory treatments for disorders of consciousness (DOCs) remains a significant challenge. Changes in brain spatiotemporal dynamics reveal the underlying mechanisms of brain networks involved in the DOC. This study explored the spatiotemporal dynamics of electroencephalography source-level microstates associated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) neuromodulation in DOC patients under different stimulation frequencies.

This study included nine patients with chronic DOC. During the DBS stimulation period, different stimulation parameter combinations were applied (stimulation frequencies of 25 Hz, 50 Hz or 100 Hz, with a stimulation voltage of 3.0 V and a pulse width of 120 μs). Changes in source-level microstate indicators were assessed to explore the spatiotemporal dynamics and underlying mechanisms of brain activity under different frequency modulations.

Microstate analysis revealed seven optimal microstate types. The mean duration of microstates in the 100 Hz stimulation group was significantly longer than in the 25 Hz and 50 Hz groups, with the left sensorimotor and right temporal regions showing the most pronounced differences. The microstate syntax matrix showed that, compared with baseline, microstate transitions in the 100 Hz stimulation group occurred across a larger number of cortical areas. Additionally, compared with the 25 Hz and 50 Hz groups, microstate transitions were particularly prominent in the left sensorimotor state and right dorsal state transitioning to the right temporal state.

High-frequency brain stimulation elicits a pronounced transition in spatiotemporal dynamics of microstates and induces global brain dynamic alterations centred on right temporal nodes, underscoring the pivotal role of the default mode network in consciousness circuits during the DBS.

ChiCTR2400085855.