Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00192

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Spatial signature of low-frequency network changes accounts for pallidal stimulation outcome in cervical dystonia.

Bahners, B. H. ; Lofredi, R. ; Voss, H. ; de Almeida Marcelino, A. L. ; Goede, L. L. ; Feldmann, L. K. ; Schnitzler, A. ; Sander, T. H. ; Florin, E. ; Kühn, A. A. (Last author)DZNE*

2026
Elsevier Amsterdam [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2026.106140

Abstract: Pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS) has remarkable effects in patients with cervical dystonia. Yet, its neurophysiological mechanisms are not fully resolved to date. Converging evidence suggests that pallidal DBS modulates sensorimotor and cerebellar network activity in dystonia, possibly by disrupting pathologically enhanced low-frequency oscillations in the basal ganglia. Still, anatomical and electrophysiological findings have rarely been linked, and it is unclear whether oscillatory changes occur in the same network identified in neuroimaging studies.In this cross-sectional study, we investigate the effects of pallidal DBS in patients with cervical dystonia using magnetoencephalography recordings on and off stimulation. We correlated DBS outcomes to the whole-cortex pattern of DBS-induced power changes in each cortical vertex.This analysis revealed a distinct low-frequency electrophysiological signature that accounted for significant amounts of variance in DBS improvements across the cohort. The signature was characterised by negative peaks within the supplementary motor area and the motor cortex as well as positive peaks in prefrontal and cerebellar areas.Our study sheds light on the cortical and cerebellar effects of pallidal DBS on a whole-cortex level and puts emphasis on low-frequency power modulation as a mechanism of effective stimulation beyond the basal ganglia in patients with cervical dystonia. Our findings might inform DBS programming and targeting as well as non-invasive stimulation strategies in the future.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation)-Project-ID 424778381-TRR 295.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Torticollis: therapy (MeSH) ; Torticollis: physiopathology (MeSH) ; Torticollis: diagnosis (MeSH) ; Torticollis: etiology (MeSH) ; Deep Brain Stimulation: methods (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Globus Pallidus: physiopathology (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Magnetoencephalography (MeSH) ; Adult (MeSH) ; Treatment Outcome (MeSH) ; Cross-Sectional Studies (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH) ; Brain Mapping (MeSH) ; Biomarker ; Electrophysiology effect mapping ; Globus pallidus internus ; Magnetoencephalography ; Network mapping

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Movement Disorders (Parkinson's disease, Dystonia) (AG Kühn)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Article Processing Charges ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; DOAJ Seal ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF >= 10 ; JCR ; PubMed Central ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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