Responsive neurostimulation suppresses synchronized cortical rhythms in patients with epilepsy

Abstract

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for Parkinson's disease, and is increasingly used for other neuropsychiatric conditions including epilepsy. Nevertheless, neural mechanisms for DBS and other forms of neurostimulation remain elusive. The authors measured effects of responsive neurostimulation on intracranially recorded activity from participants in a clinical investigation to assess the safety of an implantable responsive neurostimulation system in epilepsy (RNS™ System, NeuroPace, Inc.). Neurostimulation acutely suppressed gamma frequency (35-100 Hz) phase-locking. This may represent a therapeutic mechanism by which responsive neurostimulation can suppress epileptiform activity and disconnect stimulated regions from downstream targets in epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric conditions.