Long-lasting desynchronization achieved by decoupling stimulation

Abnormally strong synchronization of neuronal activity is a hallmark of several brain disorders. In Parkinson’s patients, deep brain stimulation is permanently delivered at high frequencies (> 100 Hz) to suppress symptoms. A qualitatively different, theory-based approach uses dedicated stimulus patterns to cause a desynchronization-induced decoupling of oscillatory neurons. Corresponding long-lasting desynchronizing effects were demonstrated in animal and clinical studies. However, parameters of desynchronizing stimuli, e.g. the stimulation frequency, have to be adapted to the dominant neuronal rhythm. This is an issue since different abnormal brain rhythms may coexist.

We here present a novel approach which causes long-term desynchronization by decoupling stimulation, primarily targeting the slow synaptic weight dynamics - Random Step (RS) stimulation. It ultimately leads to full-blown desynchronization by shifting neural networks from attractors with synchronized to attractors with desynchronized neuronal activity. Compared to desynchronizing stimulation techniques, the acute desynchronizing effect of RS stimulation is weaker, but the robust long-lasting effect does not require fine-tuning to the dominant neuronal rhythms. This may enable novel clinical applications.