Temporally patterned closed-loop stimulation for therapy of brain disorders

In Parkinson’s disease and tremor, the electrical activity in several different parts of the brain becomes abnormally rhythmic. This increase in rhythmic activity stops the brain controlling movement in a normal way. These diseases can be treated by placing electrodes in the parts of the brain that are abnormally rhythmic and applying continuous electrical pulses. This treatment increases the amount of normal movement, but it can also cause side effects by disrupting the brains healthy activity. Our aim is to improve such brain pacemaker treatments. We will record the rhythmic brain activity and use its features to decide when and how to stimulate in a way that will further increase normal movements and decrease side effects. Firstly, we will use the strength of rhythmic activity to decide when to turn the stimulation on and off. Secondly, we can time a pulse of electricity on a specific part of the rhythm to improve movements as efficiently as possible. This is similar to pushing someone on a swing; pushing them at one point will make them go faster, but at another will make them slow down. We will use experiments in animal models to find the most effective and safest techniques and then test these in patients.