Deep brain stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus for Parkinson’s disease can restore dynamics of striatal networks

Significance Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is highly effective for treating the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the neural mechanisms by which DBS acts are unknown. PD symptoms are tied to altered brain rhythms in basal ganglia (BG) and particularly the striatum. We develop a biophysical model of a BG neural pathway and show how beta oscillations can emerge throughout BG in PD. We then establish a mechanism by which DBS in STN can interrupt these abnormal rhythms and restore the brain’s capability to produce and regulate normal rhythms lost with dopamine depletion. Our research suggests mechanisms to leverage striatal gamma and theta oscillations to counter aberrant dynamics and enhance the therapeutic effects of DBS.