Positive therapeutic response without adverse side effects to subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) for Parkinson's disease (PD) depends to a large extent on electrode location within the STN. The sensorimotor region of the STN (seemingly the preferred location for STN DBS) lies dorsolaterally, in a region also marked by distinct beta (13-30 Hz) oscillations in the parkinsonian s...

If humans are faced with difficult choices when making decisions, the ability to slow down responses becomes critical in order to avoid suboptimal choices. Current models of decision making assume that the subthalamic nucleus (STN) mediates this function by elevating decision thresholds, thereby requiring more evidence to be accumulated before responding [1-9]. However, direct electrophysiologi...

Because the complex functions of the basal gan­ glia have been increasingly studied over the past several decades, the understanding of the role of the subtha­ lamic nucleus (STN) in motor and cognitive functions has evolved. The traditional role in motor function ascribed to the STN, based on its involvement in the cortico-stri­ ato-thalamo-cortical motor loops, the pathologic STN activity see...

Objectives: To investigate the oscillatory activity in the Parkinsonian subthalamic nucleus using the macro-electrodes for deep brain stimulation. Methods: During bilateral deep brain stimulating electrode implantation, spontaneous and evoked field potentials were recorded from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in two patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) during spontaneous resting tremor, passive...

High frequency stimulation (HFS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a well-established therapeutic approach for the treatment of late-stage Parkinson's disease. Although the underlying cause of this illness remains a mystery, changes in firing rate and synchronized activity in different basal ganglia nuclei have been related to its symptoms. Here we investigated the impact of STN-HFS on firing...

Scene Transition Nets(STN) is a very useful modeling method for discrete-continuous hybrid systems. However, it is difficult to write STN in standard object-oriented programming languages because STN programming requires much skill of object-oriented programming and high knowledge of STN of designers. To overcome this problem, the authors have developed a useful GUI simulator software for model...

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is traditionally thought to be involved in motor control, and dysfunction of the STN is thought to contribute to movement disorders. Here, we show that the STN also plays an important role in motivational processes and the response to drugs of abuse. Specifically, bilateral STN lesions produced a dose-dependent increase in the psychomotor-activating effects of coca...

It is now well established that subthalamic nucleus high-frequency stimulation (STN HFS) alleviates motor problems in Parkinson's disease. However, its efficacy for cognitive function remains a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of STN HFS in rats performing a visual attentional task. Bilateral STN HFS was applied in intact and in bilaterally dopamine (DA)-deplete...

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) plays a key role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. The modulation of the STN by norepinephrine, however, is unknown. The present study aims at characterizing the effects of systemic administration of noradrenergic agents on locomotor activity and on in vivo extracellularly recorded STN neuronal activity in intact and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned...

The GluN2D subunit of the NMDA receptor is prominently expressed in the basal ganglia and associated brainstem nuclei, including the subthalamic nucleus (STN), globus pallidus, striatum, and substantia nigra. However, little is known about how GluN2D-containing NMDA receptors contribute to synaptic activity in these regions. Using Western blotting of STN tissue punches, we demonstrated that Glu...