Pallidal Stimulation for Parkinsonism: Improved Brain Activation during Sequence Learning

We used 15O-labeled water and positron emission tomography to assess the effect of deep brain stimulation of the internal globus pallidus on motor sequence learning in Parkinson’s disease. Seven right-handed patients were scanned on and off stimulation while they were performing a motor sequence learning task and a kinematically matched motor execution reference task. The scans were performed after a 12-hour medication washout. Stimulation parameters were adjusted for maximal motor improvement; experimental task parameters were held constant across stimulation con-ditions. Internal globus pallidus stimulation improved motor ratings by 37 % (p < 0.01). During the sequence learn-ing task, stimulation improved performance as measured by several correct anticipatory movements (p < 0.01) and by verbal report (p < 0.001). Concurrent positron emission tomography imaging during learning demonstrated signifi-cant (p < 0.01) increases in brain activation with stimulation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, bilaterally in premotor cortex, and in posterior parietal and occipital association areas. Stimulation did not affect the activity of these regions during the performance of the motor execution reference task. These findings suggest that internal globus pallidus deep brain stimulation can enhance the activity of prefrontal cortico-striato-pallidothalamic loops and related transcortical pathways. Improved sequence learning with stimulation may be directly related to these func-tional changes. Ann Neurol 2002;52:144–15