Cognition and the deep brain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cognition and the deep brain: the influence of deep brain stimulation
IRAS ID
208939
Contact name
Alexander L Green
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Observations from human and animal studies have led to the description of 2 networks of brain areas called the reward system and the salience network. The function of the reward system is to evaluate the sensory environment both external factors and internal factors such as values and motivation to guide movements to maximise good outcomes and minimise bad outcomes. Outcomes of the decisions made are evaluated by the system to guide future behaviour, in other words allow learning. The salience network is involved in identifying pertinent signals in the environment and using these to guide behaviour. Functional neurosurgery (Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery and insertion of depth electrodes), used to treat diseases such as anorexia, chronic pain and investigate epilepsy, targets some of these areas, such as the insula, hippocampus and the anterior cingulate cortex.
Whilst deep brain stimulation is not associated with significant cognitive defects, the subtle effects of stimulating specific parts of the reward and salience system by DBS have not been fully studied. It is important for DBS surgeons to know how cognitive processes might be modified by DBS to allow appropriate counselling of patients, better detection of side effects and to identify future treatment opportunities. Moreover, studying the effects of DBS on cognition may aid our understanding of the function of the reward system and salience network, which may aid our understanding of its pathophysiology in diseases such as anorexia, and possibly in some other psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety disorder.
Our aim is to explore the effect of DBS on these networks by asking DBS patients to perform computer based cognitive tasks whilst recording performance data, movement variables, scalp based electroencephalogram signals or DBS electrode local field potentials (when possible) with their DBS system switched on and off.REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/2042
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion