The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is considered a key structure in motor, behavioral, and emotional control.
Although identification of the functional topography of the STN has therapeutic implications in the treatment of the motor features of Parkinson's disease, the details of its functional and somatotopic organization in humans are not well understood.
The aim of this study was to characterize the functional organization of the STN and its correlation with the motor outcomes induced by subthalamotomy.
A diffusion-weighted imaging/functional magnetic resonance imaging-driven somatotopic parcellation of the STN was defined to delineate the representation of the upper and lower limb in the STN.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging-driven parcellation demonstrated dual segregation of motor cortico-subthalamic projections in humans.
Moreover, the relationship between lesion topography and functional anatomy of the STN explains specific improvement in bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremor induced by subthalamotomy.
Identifying the functional topography of the STN will facilitate better definition of the optimal location for functional neurosurgical approaches, that is, electrode placement and lesion location, and improve specific cardinal features in Parkinson disease.