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Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Posted on Friday, October 10, 2008

Overview of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
It has been long understood that the brain is an electrical organ, and the first studies of electrical stimulation of the human brain date to the 1870’s. Modern Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) was developed about a century later, in the 1970’s, initially for the control of pain. DBS was first used to treat Parkinson’s Disease in 1987. Today, DBS is a standard surgical treatment for Parkinson’s Disease, Tremor, and Dystonia.

Deep Brain Stimulation delivers electrical current to small areas of brain tissue near the brainstem. This electrical current changes, or “modulates”, the communication between nerve cells in the brain. The symptoms of disease, such as slowness of movement, stiffness or tremor, are caused by abnormal communication between nerve cells. Therefore, the DBS modulation will silence this abnormal communication and restore function that is closer to normal.

The electrical stimulation to the brain is delivered through a fine wire that is passed through brain tissue to reach its target deep in the brain. Outside of the brain, but underneath the skin, the wire is connected to an extension wire that goes to an implanted neurostimulator or “brain pacemaker” that is usually placed in the chest. The whole system is underneath the skin. The neurostimulator can be programmed to many different settings using a device that communicates with the neurostimulator through the skin.


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