Deep Brain Stimulation for Neurological Disorders: Theoretical Background and Clinical Application

Chronic electrical stimulation of the brain has demonstrated excellent outcomes in patients with Parkinson’s disease and has recently also been applied to various other neurological diseases. This comprehensive, up-to-date textbook will meet the needs of all who wish to learn more about the application of deep brain stimulation and will provide a sound basis for safe and accurate surgery. The book comprises two main parts, the first of which presents relevant anatomical and functional background information on the basal ganglia, thalamus and other brain structures as well as on the mechanism of brain stimulation. The second part describes clinical studies on deep brain stimulation, covering results in a range of movement disorders and psychiatric diseases and also important aspects of instrumentation and technique. The authors are outstanding scientists and experts in the field from across the world.

Toru Itakura, MD, PhD, graduated from Wakayama Medical University, Japan, in 1970 and subsequently gained a PhD in Neurological Surgery from the same university. He became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery, Wakayama Medical University in 1983, an Associate Professor in 1992 and full Professor in 1994. In 2008 Professor Itakura became Chairman of Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine and since 2010 he has been President of Wakayama Medical University.