Emotional reactivity related to the electrode position changes along anterio-posterior direction in subthalamic stimulation for Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Objectives Considering the functional organization of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), we hypothesized that STN-DBS might have a differential impact on emotional reactivity in relation to the electrode position within the STN. We aimed to assess this objectively using affective modulation of the acoustic blink reflex (ABR). Methods ABR elicited during the viewing of rewarding, fearful and neutral pictures was recorded in 10 off-medicated PD patients with the STN-DBS switched ON and OFF. The active electrode contact positions in the STN were determined on T1-weighted MRI. The relation of ABR magnitude on DBS electrode position was assessed using linear regression. Results The ABR magnitude from all picture categories was related to the electrode position in both the ON (p Conclusions The STN-DBS probably drove the electrode-position related effect on emotional activation along the anterio-posterior direction. This effect, however, was not stimulus category specific suggesting rather general increase in emotional arousal. Key message Emotional reactivity changes due to DBS showed anterio-posterior gradient within the STN.