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Subthalamic neuronal firing in obsessive‐compulsive disorder and Parkinson disease
Author(s) -
Piallat Brigitte,
Polosan Mircea,
Fraix Valérie,
Goetz Laurent,
David Olivier,
Fenoy Albert,
Torres Napoleon,
Quesada JeanLouis,
Seigneuret Eric,
Pollak Pierre,
Krack Paul,
Bougerol Thierry,
Benabid Alim L.,
Chabardès Stéphan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.22222
Subject(s) - subthalamic nucleus , deep brain stimulation , neuroscience , basal ganglia , psychology , parkinson's disease , disease , medicine , central nervous system
Objective Although electrophysiologic dysfunction of the subthalamic nucleus is putative, deep brain stimulation of this structure has recently been reported to improve obsessions and compulsions. In Parkinson disease, sensorimotor subthalamic neurons display high‐frequency burst firing, which is considered as an electrophysiologic signature of motor loop dysfunction. We addressed whether such neuronal dysfunction of the subthalamic nucleus also exists in the nonmotor loops involved in patients with obsessive‐compulsive disorder. Methods We compared the neuronal activity of the subthalamic nucleus recorded in 9 patients with obsessive‐compulsive disorder with that of 11 patients with Parkinson disease measured during intraoperative exploration for deep brain stimulation. Results The mean subthalamic neuron discharge rate was statistically lower in patients with obsessive‐compulsive disorder than in patients with Parkinson disease (20.5 ± 11.0 Hz, n = 100 and 30.8 ± 15.6 Hz, n = 93, respectively, p < 0.001). The relative proportion of burst neurons did not differ significantly between the 2 diseases (75% vs 73%). Interestingly, burst neurons were predominantly left‐sided in obsessive‐compulsive disorder. Interpretation The recording of burst neurons within the nonmotor subthalamic nucleus in patients with obsessive‐compulsive disorder is a novel finding that suggests the existence of deregulation of the nonmotor basal ganglia loop, possibly left‐sided. Potentially, burst activity might interfere with normal processes occurring within nonmotor loops. Ann Neurol 2010.