Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is experiencing a paradigm shift away from studying localized therapeutic effects toward the impact of DBS on distributed brain networks. By combining a connectomic DBS approach with global brain simulations, we will explore networks that – if modulated – lead to a reduction in specific symptoms and add a mechanistic dimension to the concept by modeling their network dynamics.
Visualization of Deep Brain Stimulation electrodes.
Within B01, Nanditha Rajamani is pursuing her PhD in the Horn laboratory, while Jil Meier is pursuing a postdoc in the Ritter laboratory.
Both the Ritter and Horn laboratories develop widely used open-source software applications for whole-brain dynamical brain simulation (The Virtual Brain) and DBS electrode localizations (Lead-DBS) which will be applied and further developed in the project.
Within Lead-DBS development, the Horn laboratory could establish an array of novel methods, including DBS network mapping, Subcortical Electrophysiology Mapping and probabilistic conversions of stereotactical coordinates to standard neuroimaging (“MNI”) space.
Further information about the two PIs can be found on the respective lab websites:
A main goal is to model how DBS retunes static and dynamic networks which are involved in specific symptoms. For the future, we envision a symptom-specific treatment strategy that may lead to personalized medicine in DBS and neuromodulation as a whole.
Finally, a specific interest of the Horn laboratory is to develop normative connectomes of the human connectome and to curate atlases of the human brain:
The Connectomic Deep Brain Stimulation Handbook edited by B01 PI Andreas Horn.
