Desynchronization by Means of a Coordinated Reset of Neural Sub-Populations

Abstract

The coordinated reset of neural sub-populations is introduced as an effectively desynchronizing stimulation technique. For this, short sequences of high-frequency pulse trains are administered at different sites in a coordinated way, i.e. separated by suitable fixed delays. Desynchronization is effectively maintained by performing a coordinated reset with demand-controlled timing or by periodically administering resetting high-frequency pulse trains of demand-controlled length. Unlike previously developed methods, this novel approach is robust against variations of model parameters, and does not require time-consuming calibration. I suggest the novel technique to be used for demand-controlled deep brain stimulation in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease or essential tremor. Furthermore, the novel stimulation method might even be applicable to diseases with intermittently emerging synchronized neural oscillations like epilepsy.