# Beyond theta: analyzing oscillations across the frequency spectrum in patients with dystonia implanted with sensing-enabled pulse generators

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2023 · $69,080

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Dystonia is a disabling neurological condition characterized by sustained or repetitive muscle movements
causing abnormal movements or postures. Studies that have investigated local field potentials (LFPs) recorded
from deep brain stimulation (DBS) – direct electrical stimulation of subcortical brain structures using chronically
implanted electrodes – leads in dystonia patients have been in-clinic or perioperative recordings while the patient
was performing constrained movements. These studies have characterized pathologically increased low-
frequency activity [i.e., theta (3-8 Hz)] and its relationship to dystonic symptoms. However, the functional
relevance of this activity remains elusive and recent findings have implicated that additional oscillations (e.g.,
finely-tuned or narrowband gamma) may be related to pathophysiology. The objective of this application is to
identify individualized LFP biomarkers of dystonia in a data-driven manner across the basal ganglia and cortex,
while revealing the relationship between fluctuations in biomarkers to symptom suppression during DBS. We will
accomplish this using a second-generation investigational, bidirectional device (Medtronic RC+S), which allows
us to chronically sense LFPs and deliver DBS therapy while patients are in at-home settings. These novel
recordings and devices provide insights into complex biomarkers and naturalistic behaviors, allowing a direct
comparison of individualized biomarkers to symptom monitoring or suppression. This will advance our
understanding of neural changes associated with dystonia and DBS, ultimately improving current
neurostimulation therapy. Our central hypothesis is that naturalistic neural recordings, specifically those
recorded both cortically and subcortically in conjunction with multimodal signal acquisition (i.e., video kinematics
and acceleration), can detect personalized biomarkers of dystonic symptoms that can illuminate our network
understanding of the disease and its symptom manifestation, while aiding in the optimization of DBS therapy. In
Aim 1, we will identify and characterize individualized power bands associated with pathological activity in
patients with dystonia using chronic subcortical and cortical recordings. We will decode pathological states using
supervised and self-supervised machine learning techniques. In Aim 2, we will determine personalized power
bands modulated during deep brain stimulation in patients with dystonia using chronic subcortical and cortical
recordings and utilize these relationships to optimize stimulation programming. This research is significant and
innovative because it will be the first chronic, multisite LFP recording paradigm to study effects of dystonic
symptoms and DBS on pallidal LFPs, cortical LFPs, and subcortical-cortical interactions using the Medtronic
RC+S, providing ample information about basal ganglia and cortical functions, network interactions in dystonia
and the mechanisms of...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10569467
- **Project number:** 1F32NS129627-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Stephanie Lynn Cernera
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $69,080
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-05-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10569467

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10569467, Beyond theta: analyzing oscillations across the frequency spectrum in patients with dystonia implanted with sensing-enabled pulse generators (1F32NS129627-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10569467. Licensed CC0.

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