Optimal number of stimulation contacts for coordinated reset neuromodulation

Abstract

In this computational study we investigate coordinated reset (CR) neuromodu lation designed for an effective control of synchronization by multi-site stimulation of neuronal target populations. this method was suggested to effectively counter act pathological neuronal synchrony characteristic for several neurological disorders. we study how many stimulation sites are required for optimal CR-induced desyn chronization. we found that a Moderate increase of the number of stimulation sites may significantly prolong the post-stimulation desynchronized transient after the stimulation is completely switched off. this can, In turn, Reduce the amount of the administered stimulation current for the intermittent ON-OFF CR stimulation protocol, where time intervals with stimulation ON are recurrently followed by time intervals with stimulation OFF. In addition, we found that the optimal number of stimulation sites essentially depends on how strongly the administered current de-cays within the neuronal tissue with increasing distance from the stimulation site. In particular, for a broad spatial stimulation profile, i.e., for a weak spatial decay rate of the stimulation current, CR stimulation can optimally be delivered via a small number of stimulation sites. Our findings may contribute to an optimization of therapeutic applications of CR neuromodulation. © 2013 Lysyansky, Popovych and Tass.