Abstract

Simultaneous deep brain stimulation (DBS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) constitutes a powerful tool for elucidating brain functional connectivity, and exploring neuromodulatory mechanisms of DBS therapies. Previous DBS-fMRI studies could not provide full activation pattern maps due to poor MRI compatibility of the DBS electrodes, which caused obstruction of large brain areas on MRI scans. Here, we fabricate graphene fiber (GF) electrodes with high charge-injection-capacity and little-to-no MRI artifact at 9.4T. DBS-fMRI with GF electrodes at the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinsonian rats reveal robust blood-oxygenation-level-dependent responses along the basal ganglia-thalamocortical network in a frequency-dependent manner, with responses from some regions not previously detectable. This full map indicates that STN-DBS modulates both motor and non-motor pathways, possibly through orthodromic and antidromic signal propagation. With the capability for full, unbiased activation pattern mapping, DBS-fMRI using GF electrodes can provide important insights into DBS therapeutic mechanisms in various neurological disorders.

Highlights

  • Simultaneous deep brain stimulation (DBS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging constitutes a powerful tool for elucidating brain functional connectivity, and exploring neuromodulatory mechanisms of DBS therapies

  • We believe that the DBS–functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies with graphene fiber (GF) electrodes can serve as a powerful platform for translational research investigating the therapeutic mechanisms and modulatory effects of DBS

  • GFs were prepared through a dimension-confined hydrothermal process from aqueous graphite oxide (GO) suspensions[18]

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Summary

Introduction

Simultaneous deep brain stimulation (DBS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) constitutes a powerful tool for elucidating brain functional connectivity, and exploring neuromodulatory mechanisms of DBS therapies. DBS-fMRI with GF electrodes at the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinsonian rats reveal robust blood-oxygenation-level-dependent responses along the basal ganglia-thalamocortical network in a frequency-dependent manner, with responses from some regions not previously detectable. This full map indicates that STN-DBS modulates both motor and non-motor pathways, possibly through orthodromic and antidromic signal propagation. Simultaneous DBS and fMRI (DBS–fMRI) could provide us with valuable insights into brain function and connectivity patterns, as well as modulatory effects and therapeutic mechanisms of functional electrical stimulation in various neurological disorders[8,9,10].

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