Towards input output non-linear modeling of the subthalamic nucleus using intranuclear recordings

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a pivotal point of the basal ganglia function and dysfunction. Its crucial engagement with the neurosurgical procedure of deep brain stimulation (DBS) that alleviates medically intractable Parkinsonian tremor augments the need to refine our current understanding of it. Intranuclear recordings, received from a patient during surgery, are processed to acquire both local field potentials (LFPs) and the spiking activity of the cells inside the nucleus. Under the physiologically justified assumption that the LFPs constitute the input of the cells inside the nucleus whereas the spikes are the output, an input output system analysis of the STN is straightforward. Primary results show that a non-linear Hammerstein-Wiener model is able to simulate the STN output with a reasonable accuracy.