Ho-ho-ho! Gather around, my curious elves, for a tale from the wondrous world of medicine, where deep brain stimulation (DBS) shines like a guiding star for those navigating the frosty challenges of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In the land of neurons and synapses, DBS acts much like my sleigh on Christmas Eve, delivering therapeutic jolts to the subthalamo-pallidal network, a route as complex and mysterious as the path I take around the globe in one night.

Now, my little helpers, imagine trying to understand the magic of Christmas by peeking through a keyhole. That’s been the plight of scientists trying to unravel the enigmas of DBS in human patients. But lo! A breakthrough as exciting as finding a plate of cookies left out just for you. Researchers have discovered large amplitude evoked potential (EP) oscillations, akin to the jingle of sleigh bells, emanating from the depths of the brain’s subthalamic nucleus (STN) or globus pallidus internus (GPi). These signals are like the twinkling lights on a Christmas tree, illuminating new paths to understanding the human basal ganglia network activity.

In the spirit of giving, this review aims to wrap up the knowledge of DBS-induced EPs in the basal ganglia with a big red bow. It ventures to explain the various components of the EP waveforms, tracing them back to their network origins, much like I trace my list of who’s naughty and nice back to its source. The findings suggest that the globus pallidus externus (GPe), often overlooked like the last present hidden behind the tree, plays a crucial role in these oscillatory EPs, regardless of whether the stimulation is set in the STN or GPi.

So, what does this mean for the future? Just as Rudolph’s red nose became a beacon of hope, DBS EPs are poised to light the way as clinically useful electrophysiological biomarker signals, ensuring the DBS sleigh is on the right path. This could be a game-changer, my dear elves, in verifying DBS target engagement, making the journey through Parkinson’s disease a little less daunting for many.

And with that, my festive friends, let’s put a cookie in the oven for science, for it’s the gift that keeps on giving, making spirits bright and guiding us toward a future filled with hope and health. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night of discovery!