Limbic and motor function comparison of deep brain stimulation of the zona incerta and subthalamic nucleus.

Background: Psychiatric and neuropsychological side effects of subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation have been increasingly recognized. Most programming regimens focus on contacts 0 and 1, whereas contact 3, which often is located near or in the zona incerta (ZI), is usually not used. The question of whether ZI stimulation may limit limbic effects has not been answered.

Dopamine agonists induce episodes of irresistible daytime sleepiness.

We assessed the prevalence and risk factors for irresistible daytime sleepiness (IDS) in a cohort of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) treated with dopamine agonists. Seventy consecutive PD patients on dopamine agonists were interviewed. IDS was experienced by 24 patients (34.