Subthalamic DBS Map. An interactive software tool accompanying: Comprehensive Map of Axonal Pathway Activation as a Function of Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation Location and Parameter Settings.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic region is an established therapy for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Computational models of subthalamic DBS are commonly used in the clinical literature to estimate the brain connections that are activated by the stimulus. However, those analyses are typically performed with simplified DBS modeling methods. As subthalamic DBS research analyses evolve, attempting to address ever more intricate questions, there is a need for more advanced modeling results.

Objective: The goal of this study was to create detailed maps of DBS axonal pathway activation in the subthalamic region across a wide range of stimulation settings (i.e. polarity, pulse width, amplitude) and electrode locations.

Methods: We used an anatomically and biophysically detailed computational model of subthalamic DBS to calculate responses for nine different axonal pathways of interest at 256 different DBS locations. An open access interactive software tool is provided for users to analyze the pathway activation results.

Results: Electrode location plays a major role in dictating the assortment of axonal pathways that are activated by subthalamic DBS. We identified electrode locations and stimulation parameter settings that theoretically bias activation toward the pallidothalamic, motor hyperdirect, or cerebellothalamic pathways, respectively.

Conclusion: Evolving clinical hypotheses suggest that activation of specific pathways may be related to the control of specific PD symptoms. The results of this study provide detailed hypotheses on stimulation strategies that facilitate pathway selective DBS, as well as an interactive software tool that quantifies DBS pathway activation throughout the subthalamic region.