title: Imaging sensory effects of occipital nerve stimulation: a new computer-based method in neuromodulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Within the last years, occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) has proven to be an important method in the treatment of severe therapy-resistant neurological pain disorders. The correspondence between lead placement as well as possible stimulation parameters and the resulting stimulation effects remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The method aims to directly relate the neuromodulatory mechanisms with the clinical treatment results, to achieve insight in the mode of action of neuromodulation, to identify the most effective stimulation sets and to optimize individual treatment effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a new computer-based imaging method for mapping the spatial, cognitive and affective sensory effects of ONS. The procedure allows a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the relationship between lead positioning, the stimulation settings as well as the sensory and clinical stimulation effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A regular mapping of stimulation and sensory parameters allows a coordinated monitoring. The stimulation results can be reviewed and compared with regards to clinical effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Kiel Migraine and Headache Centre, Kiel, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Göbel
authors.affiliation: Kiel Migraine and Headache Centre, Kiel, Germany; Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Carl H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Göbel
authors.affiliation: Kiel Migraine and Headache Centre, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinze
authors.affiliation: Kiel Migraine and Headache Centre, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heinze-Kuhn
authors.affiliation: Kiel Migraine and Headache Centre, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Kiel Migraine and Headache Centre, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meinecke
authors.affiliation: Kiel Migraine and Headache Centre, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Svenja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clasen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Niederberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rasche
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Hubertus M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mehdorn
authors.affiliation: Kiel Migraine and Headache Centre, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: hg@schmerzklinik.de.
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Göbel
mesh_terms: D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Chronic migraine; Headache; Neuromodulation; ONS; Occipital nerve stimulation; Pain; Psychophysical effects; Sensory mapping