MRI in Patients With Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
MRI in Patients With Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease,
 medically refractory tremor, dystonia and obsessive compulsive disorder. Several hypotheses
 driven DBS trials are underway to study modulation of circuit dysfunction in other
 neurological and psychiatric disorders like epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and depression.
 Recent reports suggest profound effects of DBS on the anatomy and function of downstream
 areas in the brain. For example electrical stimulation of limbic circuits is associated with
 increase in hippocampal neurogenesis. Similarly, stimulation of subthalamic nucleus (STN) or
 globus pallidus (GPi) results in activation of cortical motor circuits. Non-invasive imaging
 modalities are increasingly being employed in these investigations to better understand the
 effects of DBS on the structure and function of the brain.

 There have been important advances in MRI and we now have MRI which provides higher
 resolution and higher quality brain images. More specifically, the investigators propose to
 use MRI to perform functional magnetic resonance imaging (i.e. fMRI) to assess the effects of
 deep brain stimulation on brain function.
This is a prospective cohort study that will enroll patients who have already undergone DBS
 electrode placement for a variety of disorders including, but not limited to Parkinson's
 disease, essential tremor, dystonia, depression, epilepsy, neuropathic pain and Alzheimer's
 disease. This eligible patient population is broad but unified by the fact that they will all
 undergo DBS to treat specific circuit dysfunctions. Patients with externalized leads or
 internalized IPG may be included. Besides the structural 1.5T or 3T scans, subjects may
 undergo a resting state fMRI exam.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age between 18 and 85 years of age

 -  Participants must have undergone implantation of DBS electrodes.

 -  Participants must be able to understand the purpose of this research and must sign the
 informed consent form.

 -  Participants must understand that the role of this research is to enhance our
 understanding of brain functioning and that he/she will not directly or indirectly
 benefit from the study.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Participants who have serious cognitive or psychological impairments and cannot give
 informed consent.

 -  Participants who are unable to effectively or efficiently communicate, for example
 patients suffering from speech deficits (dysarthria, aphasia) or are non-English
 speaking.