Posted by SLS on September 11, 2006, at 6:33:28
In reply to Re: Primetime-Deep Brain Stimulation, posted by cecilia on September 11, 2006, at 3:14:13
> No, deep brain stimulation is much more invasive surgery than VNS, nowhere near being approved, just being experimented on in a few places. Cecilia
DBS actually does not stimulate, but rather interrupts signalling in the subgenual cingulate region. This area is generally overactive in depression. When successful, both antidepressant treatment and ECT result in a decrease in activity here, sometimes even below normative values. People who fail to respond to treatment demonstrate no such changes. Even placebo responders show decreases in subgenual cingulate activity. As activity here increases in the pathological state, activity in the prefrontal cortex decreases in a reciprocal relationship. So, in depression, less is better. DBS therefore disrupts and produces decreased signalling in the subgenual cingulate which in turn results in increased signalling (disinhibition) in frontal cortex. This is the theoretical basis for the antidpressant action of DBS, and a marker for successful treatment using other modalities.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:684168
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060909/msgs/684952.html