Krembil Neuroscience Centre (KNC)

Functional Neurosurgery - A to Z Glossary

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This is not an exhaustive list, but includes some of the terminology commonly used in functional neurosurgery:

Amplitude

is the strength of stimulation for your specific therapy. The amplitude is measured in volts. The amplitude setting is one of several that can be adjusted during programming in order to improve your symptoms.

Basal Ganglia

A collection of nerve cells at the base of the brain involved in the control of movement.

Bradykinesia/Akinesia

Slowness of movement/no movement.

Bilateral

Both sides of the brain (right and left).

Cognitive

Involving or relating to the mental processes of perception, judgement, memory, and reasoning.

Contraindications

A medical term meaning that a procedure, device, or drug etc. should always be avoided because the risk is greater than any possible benefits.

Dysarthria

Difficult, poorly articulated speech, resulting from interference in the control and execution over the muscles of speech.

Dysphagia

A syndrome characterized by sustained muscle contractions, usually producing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures or positions.

Essential Tremor

The most common movement disorder in its group characterized by tremor, which may occur in the hands, head, legs, trunk, or voice.

Functional Stereotactic Neurosurgery

A specialized surgical procedure used to treat central nervous system (brain and spine) disorders that uses a stereotactic head frame to keep the patient’s head still during surgery and that uses special imaging techniques to map the brain and locate the target site.

Fluoroscopy

An x-ray procedure that makes it possible to see internal organs in motion.

Huntington’s Disease

A rare abnormal hereditary condition characterized by chronic progressive chorea and mental deterioration that results in dementia. An individual afflicted with the condition usually shows the first signs in the fourth decade of life and dies within 15 years.

Hypophonia

A weak or whispered voice.

Levodopa

The generic name for the main medication used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Sinemet is a common brand name for Levodopa that is familiar to many patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A type of scan using magnetic fields that provides detailed pictures of your anatomy.

Microlesion Effect

A temporary improvement in motor symptoms due to microelectrode recording or deep brain stimulation lead insertion.

“Off” Time

The time period when you do not receive relief from your Parkinson’s Disease despite having taken your medications.

“On” Time

The time period when you are receiving relief from your symptoms.

“On” Time with Dyskinesia

The time period when you are receiving relief from your symptoms, but uncontrolled movements caused by medications.

Parkinson’s Disease

A movement disorder with four typical symptoms: tremor (involuntary, rhythmic shaking), rigidity (stiffness of the limbs), bradykinesia (slowness of movement/no movement), and postural instability (problems with balance or coordination).

Postural instability

Problems with balance or coordination.

Rigidity

Muscle stiffness.

Stimulation

The delivery of electrical signals to the brain cells. The electrical signals may disrupt some of the incorrect messages processed by the brain in the areas that control movement.

Tremor

Involuntary, rhythmic shaking.

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