Deep brain stimulation shows potential to improve communication after traumatic brain injury
Deep brain stimulation, or DBS, may help improve speech and swallowing problems caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to a new University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study published in Nature Communications.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown promising potential in improving communication after traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to a study published in Nature Communications by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The proof-of-concept study suggests that low-frequency electrical stimulation of the motor thalamus, a deep brain region connected to the motor cortex, can enhance control of facial and tongue muscles involved in speaking and swallowing.
This finding could potentially strengthen remaining communication pathways between the brain and muscles after TBI, with the ability to improve and partially restore a person's ability to communicate verbally. The study's lead researcher, Elvira Pirondini, highlights the importance of rehabilitating speech deficits after an injury, as losing speech can significantly impact a person's work, independence, and relationships.
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