Unraveling the mechanisms of deep-brain stimulation of the internal capsule in a mouse model

Bastijn J. G. van den Boom, Alfredo Elhazaz-Fernandez, Peter A. Rasmussen, Enny H. van Beest, Aishwarya Parthasarathy, Damiaan Denys, Ingo Willuhn

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Abstract

Deep-brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for patients suffering from otherwise therapy-resistant psychiatric disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder. Modulation of cortico-striatal circuits has been suggested as a mechanism of action. To gain mechanistic insight, we monitored neuronal activity in cortico-striatal regions in a mouse model for compulsive behavior, while systematically varying clinically-relevant parameters of internal-capsule DBS. DBS showed dose-dependent effects on both brain and behavior: An increasing, yet balanced, number of excited and inhibited neurons was recruited, scattered throughout cortico-striatal regions, while excessive grooming decreased. Such neuronal recruitment did not alter basic brain function such as resting-state activity, and only occurred in awake animals, indicating a dependency on network activity. In addition to these widespread effects, we observed specific involvement of the medial orbitofrontal cortex in therapeutic outcomes, which was corroborated by optogenetic stimulation. Together, our findings provide mechanistic insight into how DBS exerts its therapeutic effects on compulsive behaviors.
Original languageEnglish
Article number5385
JournalNature communications
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2023

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