A multicenter study of 50 Parkinson's patients found deep brain stimulation works best when it engages a precisely defined network linking the subthalamic nucleus to frontal brain regions.
Simultaneous recordings from implanted DBS electrodes and magnetoencephalography showed that network communicates mainly through a high-beta rhythm of 20-35 Hz, tying location and timing together for the first time.
Stronger connectivity in that network tracked with greater motor-symptom improvement after electrode implantation, pointing to a measurable marker of why some patients respond better than others.
The finding could help clinicians fine-tune stimulation settings for patients who do not get enough relief now, while ongoing studies test how DBS directly reshapes brain networks.