Beta oscillatory activity of single neurons in the subthalamic nucleus in patients with Parkinson's disease

对进展期帕金森病(PD)患者丘脑底核(STN)单个神经元的频率进行了分析。神经元分为β带神经元和非振荡神经元。比较两组的放电频率、STN内的分布和运动感觉神经元的比例，β带神经元的放电频率明显高于非振荡神经元。β带神经元广泛分布于STN内，背侧和腹侧STN在神经元分布上无显著差异。我们没有注意到运动感觉神经元的比例在组间有任何显著差异。β带神经元的高放电率与运动障碍的放电率模型是一致的。背侧STN是一个运动区，但由于β带神经元的广泛分布，单个神经元的β带活动可能并不能特异性地反映帕金森病的运动症状。

We analyzed the frequencies of single neurons of subthalamic nucleus (STN) in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). The neurons were classified as beta-band neurons and nonoscillatory neurons. Firing rates, distributions within the STN, and the proportions of kinesthetic neurons were compared between the 2 groups.The firing rate of beta-band neurons was significantly higher than that of nonoscillatory neurons. Beta-band neurons were widely distributed within the STN, and there was no significant intergroup difference in neuron distribution between the dorsal STN and the ventral STN. We did not note any significant intergroup difference in the proportion of kinesthetic neurons.The higher firing rate of beta-band neurons was consistent with the firing rate model of akinesia. The dorsal STN is a motor area, but the beta-band activity of a single neuron may not specifically reflect the motor symptoms of PD because of the wide distribution of beta-band neurons.