http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/01/07/for-treating-parkinsons-a-brain-pacemaker-beats-out-medication/ 80beats is DISCOVER's news aggregator, weaving together the choicest tidbits from the best articles covering the day\'s most compelling topics. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:22:11 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/01/07/for-treating-parkinsons-a-brain-pacemaker-beats-out-medication/comment-page-1/#comment-57556 AM Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:10:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/01/07/for-treating-parkinsons-a-brain-pacemaker-beats-out-medication/#comment-57556 My critical message above was meant for the article http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/10/05/boosting-a-brain-wave-makes-people-move-slow%E2%80%94and-bad-at-video-games/ . I don't understand how it got misplaced, and I apologize to the study authors. My critical message above was meant for the article http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/10/05/boosting-a-brain-wave-makes-people-move-slow%E2%80%94and-bad-at-video-games/ . I don’t understand how it got misplaced, and I apologize to the study authors.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/01/07/for-treating-parkinsons-a-brain-pacemaker-beats-out-medication/comment-page-1/#comment-57440 AM Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:01:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/01/07/for-treating-parkinsons-a-brain-pacemaker-beats-out-medication/#comment-57440 I am amazed by the naivete of the claim, either by those making the study, or the person reporting on it. One main thing missing: an understanding of the medical study being referenced. Other than making a distinction between constant and periodic brain stimulation, there doesn't seem to exist an explanation of crucial aspects of neural dynamics. Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease is at 130-180 Hz, a much higher frequency than beta waves ... at which low frequency the stimulation has been found to worsen several symptoms. To put it in a layman's musical context: one should mix up the rate of a fast rock'n roll piece with a baby lullaby or with the pounding of a jackhammer. I am amazed by the naivete of the claim, either by those making the study, or the person reporting on it. One main thing missing: an understanding of the medical study being referenced.
Other than making a distinction between constant and periodic brain stimulation, there doesn’t seem to exist an explanation of crucial aspects of neural dynamics. Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease is at 130-180 Hz, a much higher frequency than beta waves … at which low frequency the stimulation has been found to worsen several symptoms.
To put it in a layman’s musical context: one should mix up the rate of a fast rock’n roll piece with a baby lullaby or with the pounding of a jackhammer.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/01/07/for-treating-parkinsons-a-brain-pacemaker-beats-out-medication/comment-page-1/#comment-16830 CJT Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:30:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/01/07/for-treating-parkinsons-a-brain-pacemaker-beats-out-medication/#comment-16830 My mother had this surgery over the summer. The improvement in her quality of life is amazing. She's delighted with it. My mother had this surgery over the summer. The improvement in her quality of life is amazing. She’s delighted with it.

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