Int Rev Neurobiol
-
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a noninvasive method which allows recordings of human brain activity with excellent temporal and good spatial resolution. In this chapter, we review applications of MEG in neuromodulation. ⋯ In particular, we discuss how MEG may be employed to study deep brain stimulation. In this context, we describe the problems arising from stimulation artifacts and present approaches to solve them.
-
Only approximately 10% of patients encountering a cardiac arrest (CA) and subsequent cardiopulmonary resuscitation survive to a meaningful life. One of the most important causes for this low survival rate is the ischemia-reperfusion injury that hits the brain. ⋯ In order to shed some light on therapeutic opportunities, our findings relating to the use of induced mild hypothermia and methylene blue as neuroprotective agents are reviewed. Furthermore, we would like to share some interesting data on gender differences and effects of estrogen on the ensuing cerebral injury occurring after hypovolemic CA.
-
The use of neuromodulatory techniques in the treatment of neurological disorders is expanding and now includes devices targeting the motor cortex, basal ganglia, spinal cord, peripheral nervous system, and autonomic nervous system. In this chapter, we review and discuss the current and past literature as well as review indications for each of these devices in the ongoing management of many common neurological diseases including chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, tremor, dystonia, and epilepsy. We also discuss and update mechanisms of deep brain stimulation and electrical neuro-network modulation.
-
Development of neural prostheses over the past few decades has produced a number of clinically relevant brain-machine interfaces (BMIs), such as the cochlear prostheses and deep brain stimulators. Current research pursues the restoration of communication or motor function to individuals with neurological disorders. ⋯ However, a number of significant issues regarding BMI performance, device capabilities, and surgery must be resolved before clinical use of BMI technology can become widespread. This chapter reviews challenges to clinical translation and discusses potential solutions that have been reported in recent literature, with focuses on hardware reliability, state-of-the-art decoding algorithms, and surgical considerations during implantation.
-
We review the data concerning the neurophysiology of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in humans, especially in reference to Parkinson's disease. The electric field generated by DBS interacts with the brain in complex ways, and several variables could influence the DBS-induced biophysical and clinical effects. The neurophysiology of DBS comprises the DBS-induced effects per se as well as neurophysiological studies designed to record electrical activity directly from the basal ganglia (single-unit or local field potential) through the electrodes implanted for DBS. ⋯ DBS-induced effects at system level can be studied through evoked potentials, autonomic tests, spinal cord segmental system, motor cortical and brainstem excitability, gait, and decision-making tasks. All these variables are influenced by DBS, suggesting also distant effects on nonmotor structures of the brain. Last, advances in understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying DBS led researchers to develop a new adaptive DBS technology designed to adapt stimulation settings to the individual patient's clinical condition through a closed-loop system controlled by signals from the basal ganglia.