High-frequency and brief-pulse stimulation pulses terminate cortical electrical stimulation-induced afterdischarges

• Main Authors: Zhi-wei Ren, Yong-jie Li, Tao Yu, Duan-yu Ni, Guo-jun Zhang, Wei Du, Yuan-yuan Piao, Xiao-xia Zhou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Neural Regeneration Research
• Subjects: nerve regeneration; cortical electrical stimulation; afterdischarges; intractable epilepsy; functional brain mapping; high frequency stimulation; low frequency stimulation; neuromodulation; neural regeneration
• Online Access: http://www.nrronline.org/article.asp?issn=1673-5374;year=2017;volume=12;issue=6;spage=938;epage=944;aulast=Ren
• ISSN: 1673-5374

Brief-pulse stimulation at 50 Hz has been shown to terminate afterdischarges observed in epilepsy patients. However, the optimal pulse stimulation parameters for terminating cortical electrical stimulation-induced afterdischarges remain unclear. In the present study, we examined the effects of different brief-pulse stimulation frequencies (5, 50 and 100 Hz) on cortical electrical stimulation-induced afterdischarges in 10 patients with refractory epilepsy. Results demonstrated that brief-pulse stimulation could terminate cortical electrical stimulation-induced afterdischarges in refractory epilepsy patients. In conclusion, (1) a brief-pulse stimulation was more effective when the afterdischarge did not extend to the surrounding brain area. (2) A higher brief-pulse stimulation frequency (especially 100 Hz) was more likely to terminate an afterdischarge. (3) A low current intensity of brief-pulse stimulation was more likely to terminate an afterdischarge