Distinct oscillatory STN-cortical loops revealed by simultaneous MEG and local field potential recordings in patients with Parkinson's disease

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2011-04, Vol.55 (3), p.1159-1168
• Main Authors: Hirschmann, J., Özkurt, T.E., Butz, M., Homburger, M., Elben, S., Hartmann, C.J., Vesper, J., Wojtecki, L., Schnitzler, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Alpha Rhythm - physiology; Beta Rhythm - physiology; Cerebral Cortex - pathology; Coherence; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Deep Brain Stimulation; Electrodes; Electrodes, Implanted; Electroencephalography; Electromyography; Electrooculography; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Evoked Potentials - physiology; Female; Functional connectivity; Functional Laterality - physiology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetoencephalography; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Neurosurgical Procedures; Oscillations; Parkinson Disease - pathology; Parkinson Disease - therapy; Parkinson's disease; Patients; Subthalamic nucleus; Subthalamic Nucleus - pathology; Surgery; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.11.063

Neuronal oscillations are assumed to play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Neurons in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) generate oscillations which are coupled to rhythmic population activity both in other basal ganglia nuclei and cortical areas. In order to localize these cortical areas, we recorded local field potentials (LFPs) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) simultaneously in PD patients undergoing surgery for deep brain stimulation (DBS). Patients were withdrawn from antiparkinsonian medication and recorded at rest. We scanned the entire brain for oscillations coherent with LFPs recorded from the STN with a frequency domain beamformer. Coherent activity in the low (12–20Hz) and high (20–35Hz) beta range was found in the ipsilateral sensorimotor and the premotor cortex. Coherence in the alpha range (7–12Hz) was observed at various locations in the ipsilateral temporal lobe. In a subset of subjects, the superior temporal gyrus consistently showed coherent alpha oscillations. Our findings provide new insights into patterns of frequency-specific functional connectivity between basal ganglia and cortex and suggest that simultaneous inter-regional interactions may be segregated in the frequency domain. Furthermore, they demonstrate that simultaneous MEG-LFP recordings are a powerful tool to study interactions between brain areas in PD patients undergoing surgery for DBS. ► Beta oscillations in the STN are coherent with beta oscillations in the ipsilateral sensorimotor and premotor cortex (precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, medial frontal gyrus). ► Alpha oscillations in the STN are coherent with oscillations in the ipsilateral temporal cortex. ► The distribution of motor cortex–STN coherence across DBS electrode contacts is focal. ► The distribution of superior temporal gyrus–STN coherence across DBS electrode contacts is homogenous.