Identifying maximal beta power from directional subthalamic local field potentials in Parkinson's disease

Authors

Jennifer K Behnke, Robert L Peach, Moritz Gerster, Richard M Köhler, Jeroen G V Habets, Johannes L Busch, Varvara Mathiopoulou, Jonathan Kaplan, Lucia K Feldmann, Juliette Vivien, Chi Wang Ip, Gerd-Helge Schneider, Katharina Faust, Patricia Krause, Andrea A Kühn

Abstract

NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2026 May 8;12(1):114. doi: 10.1038/s41531-026-01380-1.

ABSTRACT

Accurate subthalamic beta activity could guide deep brain stimulation programming in Parkinson's disease, but bipolar recordings complicate contact selection. In 39 patients, we validated three methods to estimate pseudo-monopolar beta power. Distance-weighted methods (Euclidean, Strelow) agreed consistently with the externalized "ground-truth" beta distribution. Maximal beta power across 20s windows was more stable in ring than in directional channels. Beta-contacts from all methods aligned with clinically active stimulation contacts one year after surgery.

PMID:42103747 | DOI:10.1038/s41531-026-01380-1