Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00361

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Functional network reorganization following VIM-MRgFUS for essential tremor.

Liu, J. ; Krauss, J.DZNE* ; Purrer, V.DZNE* ; Borger, V. ; Essler, M. ; Radbruch, A.DZNE* ; Wüllner, U.DZNE* ; Upadhyay, N.DZNE* ; Boecker, H. (Last author)DZNE*

2026
Elsevier B.V. [Amsterdam]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.neurot.2026.e00864

Abstract: Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a promising, noninvasive therapeutic approach for essential tremor (ET), yet the effects of the respective lesions on functional brain network organization remain poorly understood. Here, we performed graph theory analysis to investigate changes in small-world properties and modular architecture in ET patients six months after unilateral MRgFUS of the thalamic ventral intermediate (VIM) nucleus. Small-worldness and normalized clustering coefficient increased significantly after MRgFUS, while clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, normalized characteristic path length, global efficiency, and local efficiency remained unchanged. Modular organization was largely preserved, but trend-level enhancements in inter-modular connectivity were observed between frontoparietal and subcortical modules, as well as between frontoparietal and frontotemporal-parietal modules. Within these modules, betweenness centrality increased significantly in specific cortical hubs, including the left superior frontal gyrus, right superior parietal lobule, and left postcentral gyrus. These findings indicate that unilateral VIM-MRgFUS induces selective functional network reorganization, particularly affecting relative clustering and nodal centrality patterns.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Essential Tremor: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Essential Tremor: therapy (MeSH) ; Essential Tremor: physiopathology (MeSH) ; Essential Tremor: surgery (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging: methods (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH) ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei: surgery (MeSH) ; Nerve Net: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Brain networks ; Essential tremor ; Graph theory analysis ; MRgFUS ; Ventral intermediate nucleus

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Positron Emissions Tomography (PET) (AG Boecker)
2. Clinical Research Coordination (Clinical Research (Bonn))
3. Clinical Neuroimaging (AG Radbruch)
4. Biomarker Parkinson's Disease (AG Wüllner)
5. Patient Studies (Bonn) (Patient Studies (Bonn))

Research Program(s):

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

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Database coverage:
; ; Article Processing Charges ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; DEAL Springer ; DEAL Springer ; DOAJ Seal ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; PubMed Central ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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