Characterization of the Zona Incerta

Parkinson's Disease affects more than 1 million people in the United States with 60,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson's Disease, but there are several treatment options available. Currently the most popular surgical option is Deep Brain Stimulation. Microelectrode recording helps identify nuclei as the microelectrode passes through them. While the firing frequencies of the target nuclei are well defined, other nuclei are not. This study will attempt to characterize the Zona Incerta, which is the structure directly above the Subthalamic Nucleus, a target nucleus. Characterization of the firing frequency of the Zona Incerta will help aid Deep Brain Stimulation procedures. Looking at the Interspike Intervals for 25 files showed that the average firing frequency is 11.6Hz. A file recorded in the STN was used for comparison and to validate the methods used. This yielded an average firing frequency of 37.5Hz.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Adult Neurology

Year dc:date.available

2005

Author dc:creator

• Green, Heather Joyce

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Paul A. Wetzel

• anticholinergics
• levodopa
• dystonia
• tremor
• neurodegenerative
• Parkinson's Disease
• Zona Incerta
• Deep Brain Stimulation
• DBS
• neurological
• dopamine
• amantadine
• Medical Specialties
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Neurology

Statement dc:rights

• © The Author

Identifier

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1169

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-2168