C03 – Deep brain stimulation in dystonia models: Biological implementation, definition of optimal stimulation parameters, and analysis of mechanisms
Summary of the work programme
The aim of this project is to clarify the mechanisms underlying deep brain stimulation (DBS) for dystonia, using suitable animal models of different types of human dystonia. Already short-term, antidystonic effective stimulation leads to dampening of cortico-striatal synaptic communication. Ongoing studies focus on long-term stimulation, now made feasible by implantable stimulators. The project includes examinations on: effects on the severity of dystonia, mechanisms underlying DBS (especially oscillations and activity propagation patterns), biomarkers of therapeutic outcome (focusing on EEG and local field potential markers for feedback control), and on the role of functional plasticity and network connectivity for stimulation effects.
Project leader
Prof. Dr. med. habil. Rüdiger Köhling
E-Mail
Tel.: +49 381 494 8000
Prof. Dr. med. vet. habil. Angelika Richter
E-Mail
Tel.: +49 341 973 8131
Institutions
Rostock University Medical Centre
Oscar Langendorff Institute of Physiology
Gertrudenstraße 9
18057 Rostock
University of Leipzig
Institute for Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Toxicology
An den Tierkliniken 15
04103 Leipzig
Associated staff
Denise Franz
Dr. Marco Heerdegen
Prof. Dr. Timo Kirschstein
Valentin Neubert
Christoph Werner-Schmolling
Former staff
Nadin Hoffmann
Dr. Anika Lüttig
Maria Paap
Dr. Anja Schulz