Real-time VIM thalamus recordings during peripheral nerve stimulation treatment for essential tremor: DBS intraoperative dataset

Luu, Cuong 1 ; Ranum, Jordan1; Youn, Youngwon1; Perrault, Jennifer1; Krause, Bryan1; Banks, Matthew1; Buyan-Dent, Laura1; Ludwig, Kip1; Lake, Wendell1; Suminski, Aaron1

Research facility: Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering

Published Dec 10, 2025 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.cjsxksngp

Data files

Dec 10, 2025 version files 77.82 GB

E-Files.zip

40.29 GB
P-Files.zip

37.50 GB
PNSxET_Root_Folder_.zip

33.34 MB
README.md

16.45 KB

Abstract

Background: Essential tremor (ET), the most common movement disorder in adults, presents with involuntary shaking of the upper extremities during postural hold and kinetic tasks linked to dysfunction in the cerebellothalamo-cortical network. Recently, transcutaneous afferent patterned stimulation (TAPS), applied through a wrist-worn device, has emerged as a non-invasive treatment for medication-refractory ET. However, its mechanism remains unclear.

Objective: We hypothesize that TAPS reduces tremors through modulation of the VIM thalamus in the cerebellothalamo-cortical network.

Methods: Employing refractory pure ET patients seeking VIM deep brain stimulation (DBS), we quantified clinical tremor improvement following TAPS treatment in a pre-operative setting, followed by intra-operative microelectrode recording of the contralateral thalamus with concurrent TAPS treatment on and off.

Results: After one preoperative session, TAPS significantly reduces upper limb tremor average (0.61, p = 0.002), with an asymmetric effect favoring the treated limb (p = 0.047) and the greatest improvement tending to kinetic tremor (R2 = 0.943, p = 0.002). The magnitude of TAPS-related tremor reduction demonstrates a positive correlation with the modulation of alpha (R2 = 0.213, p < 0.001) and beta band LFPs (R2 = 0.255, p < 0.001) in the VIM. TAPS also suppressed spiking activity in the VIM (R2 = 0.104, p = 0.029), though it was uncorrelated with the degree of tremor reduction. Of note, TAPS-related modulation of LFPs and spiking activity was greatest near the optimal placement location for the DBS lead in treating ET (R2 = 0.122, p = 0.006).

Conclusion: In sum, TAPS likely reduces tremor in ET by modulating the VIM and connected nodes in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway.

Real-time VIM thalamus recordings during peripheral nerve stimulation treatment for essential tremor: DBS intraoperative dataset

This codebase contains processed microelectrode recordings (MER) from human subjects with essential tremor, along with analysis scripts used to generate the findings published in Luu et al., 2025.

Human Subject Study

Study identifier: CH1052
Number of subjects: 9 (numbered 02, 03, 06-12)
Condition: Essential tremor
Intervention: Transcutaneous afferent patterned stimulation (TAPS)
Recording context: Intra-operative microelectrode recordings during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery

Getting Started

Repository/
├── E-Files/
│   ├── E-CH1052-02.mat
│   ├── E-CH1052-03.mat
│   ├── E-CH1052-06.mat
│   ├── E-CH1052-07.mat
│   ├── E-CH1052-08.mat
│   ├── E-CH1052-09.mat
│   ├── E-CH1052-10.mat
│   ├── E-CH1052-11.mat
│   ├── E-CH1052-12.mat
│   └── stimVbase.mat
├── P-Files/
│   ├── P-CH1052-02.mat
│   ├── P-CH1052-03.mat
│   ├── P-CH1052-06.mat
│   ├── P-CH1052-07.mat
│   ├── P-CH1052-08.mat
│   ├── P-CH1052-09.mat
│   ├── P-CH1052-10.mat
│   ├── P-CH1052-11.mat
│   └── P-CH1052-12.mat
└── PNSxET Root Folder/
    ├── Analysis Scripts/
    │   ├── AssistingFunctions/
    │   │   └── [General utility functions for data processing]
    │   ├── FHC/
    │   │   └── [Functions for handling FHC microelectrode recording system data]
    │   ├── MotionRemoval/
    │   │   └── [Algorithms for removing motion artifacts from neural recordings]
    │   ├── fCWT/
    │   │   └── [Fast cont wavelet transform for time-frequency analysis]
    │   ├── povilaskarvelis-DataViz-3.2.4.0/
    │   │   └── [Data visualization utilities]
    │   ├── Figures_Paper.m
    │   ├── Figures_Spikes.m
    │   └── MER_compare_tetras.m
    └── Data/
        ├── E_spk-Files/
        │   └── stimVbaseSPK.mat
        └── T-Files/
            └── TETRAS Data Log.csv

File Organization Setup

Files are organized into separate zips to reduce individual file size. Before running the scripts, unzip P-Files and E-Files folders into the Data folder within the PNSxET Root Folder directory.

Running Analysis Scripts

ROOTpath configuration: All scripts require setting the ROOTpath variable to the path of the 'PNSxET Root Folder' directory before execution
Analysis rationale: The rationale for each analysis is explained in the Methods and Supplementary Methods sections of the manuscript
Supporting functions: All subdirectories of the 'Analysis Scripts' folder contain supporting functions called by the main scripts

Data Processing Pipeline

Raw MER → P-Files → E-Files → Analysis Outputs
         (Signal    (Spectral   (Figures &
          Processing) Analysis)   Statistics)

File Naming Conventions

P- and E-Files (Neural Data in MATLAB structure .mat)

Convention: Prefix-CH1052-##.mat

P-: Prefix indicating "Processed" neural data after signal processing and artifact removal
E-: Prefix indicating "Extracted" neural data after binning and quantifying power spectral density estimates
CH1052: IRB study identifier code
##: Subject number (02, 03, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12)
- Note: Subject numbers 01, 04, and 05 were recruited for the same IRB but for a different project

Neural Recording Data Files

P-Files Exemplar: P-CH1052-02.mat

This file contains processed neural data from Subject 02 who received transcutaneous afferent patterned stimulation (TAPS) treatment on the right hand.

File location for processing: PNSxET Root Folder/Data/P-Files/P-CH1052-02.mat

Top-level structure: Two main conditions separating recordings by stimulation state:

base: Baseline recordings without TAPS stimulation
stim: Recordings during TAPS stimulation

Data organization: Each condition (base and stim) contains a matrix of structures organized as:

Rows: Recording depths (varies by subject, typically 4-5 depths)
Columns: Three recording electrode positions
- Column 1: Anterior microrecording electrode
- Column 2: Center microrecording electrode
- Column 3: Posterior microrecording electrode

Variables in each recording depth × channel structure (26 fields):

Variable	Description	Units	Data Type
`raw`	Raw neural signal timeseries	-	double array (2880000×1)
`trialTimes`	Start and end timestamps for trial	-	double (1×2)
`voltageCalib`	Voltage calibration factor	-	double scalar
`timeCalib`	Time calibration factor	-	double scalar
`fs`	Sampling frequency	Hz	double
`recDepth`	Recording depth identifier (z value in chanCoord)	-	char array (1×3)
`chan`	Channel number	1, 2, or 3	double
`chanCoord`	Recording electrode coordinates (x, y, z)	mm	double (1×3)
`implantCoord`	DBS implant coordinates (x, y, z)	mm	double (1×3)
`therapyCoord`	Therapeutic contact coordinates (x, y, z)	mm	double (1×3)
`implantSide`	Laterality of DBS implant	Left or Right	char array
`stimFreq`	TAPS stimulation frequency	Hz	double, NaN if not applicable
`stimMiliAmp`	TAPS stimulation amplitude	mA	double
`lfp`	Local field potential signal	-	double array (2880000×1)
`spk`	Spike-sorted neural activity	-	double array (2880000×1)
`rawLPCheby`	Raw signal low-pass filtered (Chebyshev)	-	double array (2880000×1)
`rawBPCheby`	Raw signal band-pass filtered (Chebyshev)	-	double array (2880000×1)
`spkSTD`	Spike detection threshold	standard deviations	double
`spkOnset`	Spike onset times	-	cell array (1×1)
`times`	Time vector for waveforms	-	cell array (1×1)
`waveforms`	Spike waveform shapes	-	cell array (1×1)
`pxx`	Power spectral density	-	double array (32769×1)
`f`	Frequency vector for PSD	Hz	double array (32769×1)
`blankingMask`	Mask for blanking motion artifact periods	-	logical array (2880000×1)
`raw_blanked`	Raw signal with artifacts blanked	-	double array (2880000×1)
`spk_blanked`	Spike signal with artifacts blanked	-	double array (2880000×1)

Note: P-Files contain the core processed data, while E-Files extend this with additional binned spectral analysis (pxx_binned, f_binned, spkCount).

E-Files Exemplar: E-CH1052-02.mat

This file contains spectral analysis data derived from P-CH1052-02.mat for Subject 02. It adds binned power spectral density (pxx_binned), binned frequency vector (f_binned), and spike counts per bin (spkCount) to the P-Files while holding the same organization structure.

File location for processing: PNSxET Root Folder/Data/E-Files/E-CH1052-02.mat

Variables in each recording depth × channel structure (29 fields):

Variable	Description	Units	Data Type
`raw`	Raw neural signal timeseries	-	double array (2880000×1)
...	...	...	...
`pxx_binned`	Binned power spectral density	-	double array (32769×60)
`f_binned`	Binned frequency vector	Hz	double array (32769×60)
`spkCount`	Spike counts per bin	-	double array (1×60)

Tabular Data Descriptions

TETRAS Data Log.csv

Raw scores from TETRAS (The Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale) testing for 9 subjects. Contains pre- and post-stimulation tremor assessments for both treated and untreated limbs.

File location for processing: PNSxET Root Folder/Data/T-Files/TETRAS Data Log.csv

Variables:

Variable	Description	Units/Scale	Data Type
`subject`	Subject identifier	IRB code (CH1052-##)	Categorical
`treated_hand`	Laterality of TAPS treatment	"right" or "left"	Categorical
`stim`	Stimulation timing	"pre" or "post"	Categorical
`measured_hand`	Which hand was assessed	"right" or "left"	Categorical
`head_tremor`	Head tremor severity	0-4	Ordinal
`face_tremor`	Facial tremor severity	0-4	Ordinal
`voice_tremor`	Voice tremor severity	0-4	Ordinal
`forward_postural`	Forward postural tremor	0-4	Ordinal
`lateral_postural`	Lateral postural tremor	0-4	Ordinal
`kinetic_tremor`	Kinetic (action) tremor	0-4	Ordinal
`spiral_drawing`	Spiral drawing task tremor	0-4	Ordinal
`dot_approximation`	Dot approximation task tremor	0-4	Ordinal
`handwriting`	Handwriting task tremor	0-4; NaN for left hand	Ordinal
`lower_limb`	Lower limb tremor severity	0-4	Ordinal
`standing_tremor`	Standing tremor severity	0-4	Ordinal

Notes:

All tremor scores use the TETRAS ordinal scale: 0 (no tremor) to 4 (severe tremor)
NaN values in handwriting column indicate testing was not performed for dominant left hand
Each subject has 4 rows: pre/post stimulation × treated/untreated hand

stimVbase.mat

Processed MI_LFP (Modulation Index for Local Field Potentials) table containing summary measures of neural modulation across all subjects, bands, and recording locations.

File location for processing: PNSxET Root Folder/Data/E-Files/stimVbase.mat

Variables:

Variable	Description	Units/Scale	Data Type
`subject`	Subject identifier	IRB naming (CH1052-##)	String/Categorical
`fIdx`	Subject index	Ordinal numbering (1-9)	Integer
`treated_hand`	Laterality of TAPS treatment	"right" or "left"	String/Categorical
`treatedAvgDiff`	Average improvement in treated limb	TETRAS score difference	Numeric
`untreatedAvgDiff`	Average improvement in untreated limb	TETRAS score difference	Numeric
`tremorReduction`	Fractional tremor reduction	Dimensionless	Numeric
`recIdx`	Recording location index	Ordinal	Integer
`chanIdx`	Channel index	Ordinal	Integer
`trialIdx`	Trial/attempt index	Ordinal	Integer
`depth`	Depth of recording contact from implant target (z-axis)	mm	Numeric
`dist2implant`	Distance of recording contact to final DBS implant location (Euclidean)	mm	Numeric
`band_f`	Frequency band for LFP analysis	Hz	Numeric array
`band`	Frequency band name	"theta", "alpha", "beta", "gamma", etc.	String/Categorical
`MI_banded`	Modulation index for the band	Dimensionless	Numeric

Data organization: Each row represents a unique combination of subject, recording location, channel, trial, and frequency band. Used for analyzing LFP modulation patterns across different brain regions and frequencies.

stimVbaseSPK.mat

Processed MI_Spikes table containing summary measures of spiking activity modulation, extending stimVbase.mat with spike-specific analysis.

File location for processing: PNSxET Root Folder/Data/E_spk-Files/stimVbaseSPK.mat

Variables: All variables from stimVbase.mat plus,

Variable	Description	Units/Scale	Type
`spkMI`	Spike modulation index	Dimensionless	Numeric

Analysis Scripts

Main Analysis Scripts

MER_compare_tetras.m
- Purpose: TETRAS tremor changes analysis
- Outputs: Figures 2A-E; Supplementary Figures S1-3
- Data sources: TETRAS Data Log.csv, stimVbase.mat
Figures_Paper.m
- Purpose: LFP modulation analysis and visualization
- Outputs: Figures 3A-I; Supplementary Figures S4-S8
- Data sources: E-Files, stimVbase.mat
Figures_Spikes.m
- Purpose: Spiking activity modulation analysis
- Outputs: Figures 4A-F
- Data sources: stimVbaseSPK.mat

Contact and References

For questions about this dataset or analysis code, please refer to:

Luu et al., 2025. "Wearable peripheral nerve stimulator reduces essential tremor symptoms through targeted brain modulation" (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2025.06.004)

Repository maintained by: Cuong P. Luu (cuong.luu@wisc.edu)

Human subjects data

All protected health information (PHI) has been purged from the metadata. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects to publish de-identified data in accordance with approved Institutional Review Board protocol.

Real-time VIM thalamus recordings during peripheral nerve stimulation treatment for essential tremor: DBS intraoperative dataset

Data files

Abstract

README

Real-time VIM thalamus recordings during peripheral nerve stimulation treatment for essential tremor: DBS intraoperative dataset

Human Subject Study

Getting Started

File Organization Setup

Running Analysis Scripts

Data Processing Pipeline

File Naming Conventions

P- and E-Files (Neural Data in MATLAB structure .mat)

Neural Recording Data Files

P-Files Exemplar: P-CH1052-02.mat

E-Files Exemplar: E-CH1052-02.mat

Tabular Data Descriptions

TETRAS Data Log.csv

stimVbase.mat

stimVbaseSPK.mat

Analysis Scripts

Main Analysis Scripts

Contact and References

Human subjects data