Doctors know that deep brain stimulation works as a therapy for Parkinson’s disease. But they’re still trying to figure out why and how. A new study sheds some light on the mechanism of action, suggesting that DBS disrupts a pattern of excessively synchronized activity in the brain.
In DBS, an implanted device sends tiny jolts of electricity through neurons, acting somewhat like a brain pacemaker. The technique is widely accepted as a treatment for Parkinson’s and other movement disorders; more than 100,000 patients have received implants that help control their tremors, rigidity, and other kinetic symptoms.
via IEEE Spectrum
Image: Alfred Pasieka/Science Photo Library/Corbis
