Cerebello-Thalamo-Cortical Coupling in Essential Tremor: Effects of High-Frequency Cerebellar Stimulation on Brain Activity and Tremor
Although the cause and development of ET is not fully explained, tremor is associated with abnormal activity within different brain regions, particularly the thalamus and cerebellum. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) reverses symptoms of tremor but is an invasive procedure. Transcranial stimulation of the cerebellum may represent a non-invasive therapeutic option for ET patients. Transcranial stimulation (tACS) is a new technique allowing manipulation of rhythmic patterns in the brain’s cortex with externally applied electrical frequencies. Researchers propose to test the effectiveness of cerebellar stimulation in ET patients previously operated for DBS. To further understand how this treatment provokes tremor reduction, they will analyze the brain neuronal activity in other ET patients who are candidates for DBS by using electric current recordings of the thalamus, cerebellum and cortex. The study will be conducted by Dr. Marie-Laure Welter at Groupe Hospitalier Pitié -Salpêtrière in Paris.