Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32278715›Full record

ArticleBrain stimulation

Neural selectivity, efficiency, and dose equivalence in deep brain stimulation through pulse width tuning and segmented electrodes.

Collin J Anderson, Daria Nesterovich Anderson, Stefan M Pulst, Christopher R Butson, Alan D Dorval

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain stimulation. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
29citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

29 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Efficacy of short pulse and conventional deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2023
    Pooled it
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  7. Metabolic activity in subcallosal cingulate predicts response to deep brain stimulation for depression.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2020
    Trial
  8. Probabilistic mapping of tremor control and gait ataxia risk in deep brain stimulation.Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996) · 2026
    Article
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  13. The interplay between pulse width and activation depth in TENS: a computational study.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Collin J AndersonUniversity of Utah Department of Neurology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Electronic address: collina@genetics.utah.edu.
Daria Nesterovich AndersonUniversity of Utah Department of Biomedical Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; University of Utah Department of Neurosurgery, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; University of Utah Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Stefan M PulstUniversity of Utah Department of Neurology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Christopher R ButsonUniversity of Utah Department of Neurology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; University of Utah Department of Biomedical Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; University of Utah Department of Neurosurgery, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; University of Utah Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; University of Utah Department of Psychiatry, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Alan D DorvalUniversity of Utah Department of Biomedical Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.

Funding

TRD - VisualizationP41GM103545 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI MACLEOD, ROB S. · 2012 to 2019
$9.7M
Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2 Gene and Gene ProductR37NS033123 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI PULST, STEFAN M. · 2014 to 2020
$3.6M
Career Development:Mechanisms of Deep Brain StimulationK25NS053544 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI DORVAL, ALAN D · 2006 to 2010
$550k
Deep cerebellar stimulation to treat degenerative cerebellar ataxiasR21NS104799 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI PULST, STEFAN M. · 2017 to 2018
$418k
Cellular and Network Mechanisms of Seizure Control Through StimulationF32NS114322 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI ANDERSON, DARIA NESTEROVICH · 2019 to 2022
$194k
NIGMS NIH HHS P41 GM103545NINDS NIH HHS F32 NS114322NINDS NIH HHS K25 NS053544NINDS NIH HHS L30 NS113231NINDS NIH HHS R21 NS104799NINDS NIH HHS R37 NS033123
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAchieving deep brain stimulation (DBS) dose equivalence is challenging, especially with pulse width tuning and directional contacts. Further, the precise effects of pulse width tuning are unknown, and recent reports of the effects of pulse width tuning on neural selectivity are at odds with classic biophysical studies.

methodsWe created multicompartment neuron models for two axon diameters and used finite element modeling to determine extracellular influence from standard and segmented electrodes. We analyzed axon activation profiles and calculated volumes of tissue activated.

resultsWe find that long pulse widths focus the stimulation effect on small, nearby fibers, suppressing distant white matter tract activation (responsible for some DBS side effects) and improving battery utilization when equivalent activation is maintained for small axons. Directional leads enable similar benefits to a greater degree. Reexamining previous reports of short pulse stimulation reducing side effects, we explore a possible alternate explanation: non-dose equivalent stimulation may have resulted in reduced spread of neural activation. Finally, using internal capsule avoidance as an example in the context of subthalamic stimulation, we present a patient-specific model to show how long pulse widths could help increase the biophysical therapeutic window. DISCUSSION: We find agreement with classic studies and predict that long pulse widths may focus the stimulation effect on small, nearby fibers and improve power consumption. While future pre-clinical and clinical work is necessary regarding pulse width tuning, it is clear that future studies must ensure dose equivalence, noting that energy- and charge-equivalent amplitudes do not result in equivalent spread of neural activation when changing pulse width.

Indexed as

Models, NeurologicalAxonsDeep Brain StimulationElectrodesHumansPatient-Specific ModelingDeep brain stimulationDirectional electrodesDose equivalenceEnergy efficiencyNeuron modelingPulse width

Identifiers

PMID32278715
PMCPMC7308191

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.