Subthalamic oscillations and phase amplitude coupling are greater in the more affected hemisphere in Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the incidence of resting state oscillations in alpha/beta, high frequency (HFO) bands, and their phase amplitude coupling (PAC) in a large cohort in Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODS: Intra-operative local field potentials (LFPs) from subthalamic nucleus (STN) were recorded from 100 PD subjects, data from 74 subjects were included in the analysis.

RESULTS: Alpha/beta oscillations were evident in >99%, HFO in 87% and PAC in 98% of cases. Alpha/beta oscillations (P<0.01) and PAC were stronger in the more affected (MA) hemisphere (P=0.03). Alpha/beta oscillations were primarily found in 13-20Hz (low beta). Beta and HFO frequencies with the greatest coupling, were positively correlated (P=0.001). Tremor attenuated alpha (P=0.002) and beta band oscillations (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: STN alpha/beta band oscillations and PAC were evident in ⩾98% cases and were greater in MA hemisphere. Resting tremor attenuated underlying alpha/beta band oscillations.

SIGNIFICANCE: Beta band LFP power may be used to drive adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS), augmented by a kinematic classifier in tremor dominant PD.