Explore the groundbreaking insights into the origin of subcortical N18 through somatosensory evoked potentials recorded from DBS electrodes, a pivotal advancement in pain neurosurgery.
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Somatosensory evoked potentials recorded from DBS electrodes: the origin of subcortical N18.
Abdulbaki et al., J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024
<!– DOI: 10.1007/s00702-024-02752-8 //–>
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-024-02752-8
This study delves into the origin of the median nerve subcortical N18 somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP), a topic of ongoing debate in neuroscience. Utilizing deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes implanted in 24 patients with dystonia, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic pain, the research investigates SEPs from various subcortical targets including the globus pallidus internus (GPi), subthalamic nucleus (STN), thalamic ventral intermediate nucleus (Vim), ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL), and the centromedian-parafascicular complex (CM-Pf). The findings reveal that the largest amplitude of the N18 complex is recorded in the Vim area, suggesting its generation ventral to the Vim in the prelemniscal radiation/zona incerta region. This contrasts with previous hypotheses of its origin either in the thalamic region or below the pontomedullary junction. The study’s use of DBS electrodes for SEP recording provides a novel approach to pinpointing the origin of specific SEP waves, contributing significantly to our understanding of somatosensory processing in the human brain.