Abstract
Background/Objections: The pharmacological management of Parkinson's Disease (PD) is often supplemented by deep brain stimulation (DBS) to tackle problems of advanced disease such as motor fluctuation, dyskinesias or medication-resistant tremor. DBS uses high-frequency stimulation with spatially distributed electrodes to produce electrical fields that influence neuronal networks. The programming of such stimulation is complex and time-consuming. Recent technological advancements have enabled DBS systems to record local field potentials (LFPs). In conjunction with biomarker discovery, such as beta oscillations, this shows promise in streamlining the DBS programming process. This review aims to synthesize the current literature investigating LFP characteristics in PD in order to understand the place of LFPs in assisting with DBS programming. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases including OVID MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, resulting in 738 identified articles; 122 studies remained after screening and 87 studies were selected for detailed analysis. RESULTS: Analyzing LFPs clearly has the potential to assist or streamline DBS programming in clinical practice, but there are knowledge gaps and challenges to overcome, especially in the utilization of intraoperative LFPs. CONCLUSIONS: More research is required to compare different algorithms that utilize LFPs in DBS programming to identify a simple, practical and time-saving algorithm incorporating reliable LFP biomarkers that will enhance the DBS programming experience for both patients and clinicians.