Cortico-muscular coherence increases with tremor improvement after deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease

Neuroreport. 2009 Oct 28;20(16):1444-9. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e328331a51a.

Abstract

Deep brain stimulation on the subthalamic nucleus has been used to relieve Parkinsonian motor symptoms. However, the underlying physiological mechanism has not been fully understood. Beta-band cortico-muscular coherence increases when healthy humans perform isometric contraction. We hypothesized that this might be a measure of symptomatic improvement in motor performance after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation. Here, we measured the beta-band cortico-muscular coherence with magnetoencephalography from three Parkinson's disease patients. We then compared the coherence values for stimulator on-state and off-state. We found that when the stimulator is on, the beta cortico-muscular coherence elevates significantly for the tremorous hand compared with that when the stimulator is off. This suggests that deep brain stimulation resulted in better cortico-muscular coordination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Deep Brain Stimulation / methods*
  • Electromyography / methods
  • Hand / innervation
  • Humans
  • Isometric Contraction / physiology
  • Magnetoencephalography / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology*
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*
  • Parkinson Disease / therapy
  • Subthalamic Nucleus / physiology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tremor / etiology
  • Tremor / therapy*