# Spatiotemporal optimization of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's Disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $488,690

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY AND ABSTRACT
The basal ganglia have a rich, functional topography composed of motor subcircuits and oscillatory networks
that are thought to be critically important to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) and the
successful application of deep brain stimulation therapy (DBS) in managing each cardinal motor sign of PD.
There is a strong clinical need to better understand these processes and in turn harness them to deliver
therapy that is tailored to an individual patient and a patient's own symptomatology. In this project, we seek to
develop a novel spatiotemporally optimized DBS therapy and evaluate its efficacy in a non-human primate
model of PD. The optimization approach leverages the unique capabilities of (1) high-field MR imaging (7T and
10.5T), (2) subject-specific computational models of DBS, (3) a high-density DBS lead with electrodes
arranged along and around the lead shank, and (4) a real-time signal processing interface that can readily
adapt stimulation parameters on the DBS array based on analysis of ongoing oscillatory activity at and
downstream of the site of stimulation. High-density DBS arrays spanning the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and
thalamic fasciculus (Array A) and the external and internal globus pallidus (GP) (Array B) will be implanted in
each subject. Aim 1 will characterize the magnitude and time course of therapeutic effects on each
parkinsonian motor sign when targeting electrical stimulation within and around the STN and GP. Aim 2 will
investigate how targeted stimulation differentially affects oscillatory activity at and downstream of the site of
stimulation and relates to improvement in each parkinsonian motor sign. Aim 3 will develop and apply a novel
set of optimization algorithms, including chaotic desynchronization and real-time closed-loop phasic
stimulation, to test the hypothesis that optimizing suppression of exaggerated phase amplitude coupling in the
STN and GP will further increase the overall magnitude of DBS therapy. Together, this project will enhance our
understanding of the pathophysiology of PD and provide critical data towards translating a patient-optimized
DBS therapy that integrates high-density DBS leads with novel closed-loop stimulation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9962507
- **Project number:** 5R01NS094206-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew Douglas Johnson
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $488,690
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9962507

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9962507, Spatiotemporal optimization of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's Disease (5R01NS094206-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9962507. Licensed CC0.

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