Subcortical nuclei and cortical functions – insight from the deep brain stimulation perspective

Exact knowledge of the role of the subcortical nuclei and their cortical relations in physiological and pathophysiological conditions still remains insufficiently explained. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for late motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and provides an opportunity to study such interactions, mainly via direct intracranial recording of local field potentials. Surface HDEEG method (high- density EEG) in combination with source reconstruction algorithms represents a new approach to study the impact of DBS on whole brain networks functioning. Detailed knowledge of subcortico- cortical interactions and PD symptoms pathophysiology is necessary mainly in relation to DBS treatment. We expect to be able to provide novel information about the cortico-subcortical interactions and the influence of DBS using current novel approaches and computational methods