Neurophysiological identification and characterization of thalamic neurons with single unit recording in essential tremor patients

Abstract

This study investigated the characteristics of the neuronal activities of the motor thalamus (Vim and Vop) in essential tremor (ET) patients, and compared the results with those of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. The kinetic (Ki) neurons were found mainly in the Vim, whereas the voluntary (Vo) neurons were found principally in the Vop of ET patients. The mean firing rates of the ET patients were higher than those of the PD patients. In addition, the mean firing rates of the Ki neurons of the ET patients were higher than those of the PD patients in the Vim nuclei. However, the mean firing rates of the ventralis caudalis (Vc) neurons, which respond to sensory stimulation, were similar in each group. An analysis of the incidence of bursting neurons revealed that the Vop nucleus of the ET patients had less bursting neurons than the PD patients. However, in the Vim nucleus, both groups possessed bursting neurons even though the incidence was slightly different. Tremor cells were observed less frequently in the Vim nucleus of ET patients than in the PD patients. This study demonstrated the characteristic features of the neuronal activities of ET patients compared to those of PD patients.