Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Ensemble recording methods are pervasive in basic and clinical neuroscience research. Invasive neural implants are used in patients with drug resistant epilepsy to localize seizure origin, in neuropsychiatric or Parkinson's patients to alleviate symptoms via deep brain stimulation, and with animal models to conduct basic research. Studies addressing the brain's physiological response to chronic electrode implants demonstrate that the mechanical trauma of insertion is followed by an acute inflammatory response as well as a chronic foreign body response. Despite use of invasive recording methods with animal models and humans, little is known of their effect on behavior in healthy populations. ⋯ Our results suggest that chronic implants did not produce significant impairments on DNMS performance.
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Neuromodulation is a promising treatment modality for tinnitus, especially in chronic and severe cases. The auditory thalamus plays a key role in the pathophysiology of tinnitus, as it integrates and processes auditory and limbic information. ⋯ High frequency stimulation of the MGB has a direct and residual suppressing effect on tinnitus in this animal model. Low frequency stimulation of the MGB did not inhibit tinnitus.
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The use of electrical stimulation therapy to treat epilepsy is currently being studied in experimental animals and patients. Our study was designed to evaluate the effects of electrical stimulation applied in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) on the development of pentylentetrazole-induced seizures. ⋯ These data could contribute to the characterization of the TRN in mediating the initiation and spreading of seizure activity and provide preclinical support for optimal parameters to use to obtain beneficial effects against convulsive activity.