Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00714

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png The deep brain stimulation response network in Parkinson's disease operates in the high beta band.

Bahners, B. H. ; Goede, L. L. ; Zvarova, P. ; Meyer, G. M. ; Butenko, K. ; Lofredi, R. ; Rajamani, N. ; Schaper, F. L. W. V. J. ; Neudorfer, C. ; Hollunder, B. ; Pijar, J. ; Madan, S. ; Hart, L. A. ; Sure, M. ; Steina, A. ; Rassoulou, F. ; Hartmann, C. J. ; Butz, M. ; Hirschmann, J. ; Vesper, J. ; Faust, K. ; Schneider, G.-H. ; Sander, T. H. ; Neumann, W.-J. ; Fox, M. D. ; Miller, K. J. ; Schnitzler, A. ; Kühn, A. A.DZNE* ; Florin, E. ; Horn, A.

2026
Oxford Univ. Press Oxford

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1093/brain/awaf445

Abstract: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus improves motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease. Using functional MRI, optimal DBS response networks have been characterized. However, neural activity associated with Parkinsonian symptoms is magnitudes faster than what can be resolved by this method. Although both spatial and temporal domains of these networks appear crucial, no single study has yet investigated both domains simultaneously. Here, we aimed at closing this gap by analysing electrophysiological data from a total of n = 127 hemispheres. Using subthalamic local field potentials that were recorded concurrently alongside whole-brain magnetoencephalography in a multi-centre cohort of patients who underwent subthalamic DBS for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (n = 100 hemispheres), we analysed the DBS response network in both spatial and temporal domains. In every cortical vertex, cortico-subthalamic coupling was correlated with stimulation outcomes. This network spatially resembled functional MRI-based findings (R = 0.40, P = 0.039) and explained significant amounts of variance in clinical outcomes (βstd = 0.30, P = 0.002), whereas theta-alpha and low beta coupling did not show significant associations with DBS response (theta-alpha: βstd = -0.02, P = 0.805; low beta: βstd = -0.08, P = 0.426). The 'optimal' high beta coupling map was robust when subjected to various cross-validation designs (10-fold cross-validation: R = 0.29, P = 0.009; split-half design: R = 0.31, P = 0.026) and was able to predict outcomes across DBS centres [R = 0.74; P(1) = 8.9 × 10-5]. We identified a DBS response network that resembles the previously defined MRI network and operates in the high beta band. Maximal connectivity to this network was associated with optimal DBS outcomes and was able to cross-predict clinical improvements across DBS surgeons and centres.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Deep Brain Stimulation: methods (MeSH) ; Parkinson Disease: therapy (MeSH) ; Parkinson Disease: physiopathology (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Beta Rhythm: physiology (MeSH) ; Magnetoencephalography: methods (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Subthalamic Nucleus: physiopathology (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH) ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MeSH) ; Nerve Net: physiopathology (MeSH) ; Hilbert envelope ; amplitude coupling ; high beta ; magnetoencephalography ; network mapping ; neurophysiology

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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:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 10 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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