Summary of key anatomic tracts and structures

StructureFigureRegions ConnectedRelevant DisordersHypothesized Effects of Stimulation
ALFig 4B, -D (yellow)GPi, VOaPD and dystoniaImprove dystonia and dyskinesia
ASFig 4B, -C (purple); Fig 3B, -C (blue)STN, GPiPD and dystoniaDirect stimulation effect unknown
ATRFig 5A, -B (red)Thalamus, prefrontal cortexOCDImprove OCD
DRTTFig 1C, -D (red and green); Fig 4D (green)DN, RN, VIM/VOp, M1ET and tremor-predominant PDImprove tremor, worsen ataxia
FLFig 2A; Fig 4D (red)GPi, VOaPD and dystoniaImprove dystonia and parkinsonism
FSFig 3B, -C (Pink); Fig 4B, -C (red)STN, GPePD and dystoniaDirect stimulation effect unknown
Hyperdirect pathway (limbic/associative)Fig 3A (cyan, yellow)STN, broad limbic and associative regionsOCDImprove OCD
Hyperdirect pathway (motor)Fig 3A (orange)STN, motor cortexPDImprove parkinsonism
MMTFig 6C (green)Mammillary body, ANTEpilepsyDecrease seizures
MFBFig 5A, -B (cyan)VTA, nucleus accumbens and olfactory cortexDepression (off-label use)Possibly worsens OCD
TFFig 2ACombination of FL, AL, and DRTT, thalamusPD, dystonia, ETImprove tremor
vtaPP (formerly slMFB)aFig 5A, -B (green)DN, VTA, SFG, MFG, and lateral OFCOCDPossibly improve OCD
ANTFig 6A–CEpilepsyDecrease seizures
VIMFig 1A–C; Fig 4DET and tremor-predominant PDImprove tremor, worsen ataxia, dysarthria
VOa/VOpFig 1A, -B; Fig 4DET and tremor-predominant PDImprove tremor, dystonia, worsen ataxia
ZIFig 1C; Fig 2AET and tremor-predominant PDImprove tremor, worsen ataxia
  • Note:—DN indicates dentate nucleus; M1, primary motor cortex; MFG, middle frontal gyrus; OFC, orbitofrontal cortex; RN, red nucleus; SFG, superior frontal gyrus; VOa, ventralis oralis anterior; VOp, ventralis oralis posterior; VTA, ventral tegmental area; vtaPP, projection pathway from the ventral tegmental area.

  • a vtaPP (slMFB) likely represents misidentification of the limbic/associative hyperdirect pathway.