Clinical neurophysiology in the treatment of movement disorders: IFCN handbook chapter.
Authors: Lefaucheur JP, Moro E, Shirota Y, Ugawa Y, Grippe T, Chen R, Benninger DH, Jabbari B, Attaripour S, Hallett M, Paulus W
In this review, different aspects of the use of clinical neurophysiology techniques for the treatment of movement disorders are addressed. First of all, these techniques can be used to guide neuromodulation techniques or to perform therapeutic neuromodulation as such. Neuromodulation includes invasive techniques based on the surgical implantation of electrodes and a pulse generator, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) or spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on the one hand, and non-invasive techniques aimed at modulating or even lesioning neural structures by transcranial application. Movement disorders are one of the main areas of indication for the various neuromodulation techniques. This review focuses on the following techniques: DBS, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation, including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and focused ultrasound (FUS), including high-intensity magnetic resonance-guided FUS (MRgFUS), and pulsed mode low-intensity transcranial FUS stimulation (TUS). The main clinical conditions in which neuromodulation has proven its efficacy are Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and essential tremor, mainly using DBS or MRgFUS. There is also some evidence for Tourette syndrome (DBS), Huntington's disease (DBS), cerebellar ataxia (tDCS), and axial signs (SCS) and depression (rTMS) in PD. The development of non-invasive transcranial neuromodulation techniques is limited by the short-term clinical impact of these techniques, especially rTMS, in the context of very chronic diseases. However, at-home use (tDCS) or current advances in the design of closed-loop stimulation (tACS) may open new perspectives for the application of these techniques in patients, favored by their easier use and lower rate of adverse effects compared to invasive or lesioning methods. Finally, this review summarizes the evidence for keeping the use of electromyography to optimize the identification of muscles to be treated with botulinum toxin injection, which is indicated and widely performed for the treatment of various movement disorders.
Introduction
Purpose
Transcranial ultrasound stimulation
Study Objective
To review and summarize the use and evidence of clinical neurophysiology and neuromodulation techniques for the treatment of movement disorders.
Animal model / Human subject
Homo sapiens (human); strain: N/A; age: Not specified; sex: Not specified
Disease model
Movement disorders (primarily Parkinson's disease, dystonia, essential tremor; also Tourette syndrome, Huntington's disease, cerebellar ataxia)
MRI or image guidance method
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS)
Targeted brain region(s)
Thalamus
Target coordinates
Not specified in the text
Cargo name and characteristics
Neuromodulation devices and modalities: DBS (implantable electrodes and pulse generator for deep brain stimulation); SCS (implantable spinal cord stimulator); non‑invasive brain stimulation: rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation coil), tDCS and tACS (low‑intensity transcranial electrical currents — direct and alternating current stimulation); focused ultrasound modalities: MRgFUS (high‑intensity MR‑guided focused ultrasound lesioning) and pulsed low‑intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (TUS); plus botulinum toxin (protein neurotoxin injected intramuscularly for focal movement disorders).
Route of administration
Intramuscular injection
Outcomes and Safety
Summary of Outcomes
Neuromodulation techniques—particularly invasive approaches such as deep brain stimulation and MR-guided focused ultrasound—substantially improve motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and essential tremor, while noninvasive methods (rTMS, tDCS/tACS, TUS) produce shorter-lived or variable benefits and electromyography aids botulinum toxin targeting.
Duration of biological effect
short-term
Safety-related matter
Non-invasive transcranial neuromodulation techniques are easier to use and have a lower rate of adverse effects compared to invasive or lesioning methods.
Brain Region
Ultrasound Parameters
Ultrasound instrument
Not specified
FUS Frequency
Not specified in the provided text
FUS Intensity
Not specified (no numeric W/cm2 values reported)
FUS Pressure
Not reported
FUS Mode
pulsed
Pulse duration
Not reported
Duration of a single FUS session
Not reported in the provided text
Focal Characteristics
Not specified
Treatment frequency
multiple sessions
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