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Fig. 1 | Journal of Translational Medicine

Fig. 1

From: Continuous high-frequency deep brain stimulation of the anterior insula modulates autism-like behavior in a valproic acid-induced rat model

Fig. 1

Deep brain stimulation system and electrodes implantation in rat anterior insula. A Electrical stimulation pattern of bilateral insular cortex in rats. Program controller was used to adjust parameters of IPG through the signal converter. B Photograph of the DBS apparatus consisting of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) and two electrodes. C A schematic view of the sagittal rat brain section showing the target of electrode implantation. D Targets of implanted electrodes (colored dots) in the AI of rats included for behavioural data analysis (n = 67). Experiment 1: saline-sham (green), n = 13; saline-DBS (yellow), n = 13; VPA-sham (orange), n = 12; VPA-DBS (red), n = 14. Experiment 2: saline-sham (blue), n = 5; saline-DBS (purple), n = 5; VPA-DBS (black), n = 5. E Experimental timeline. Six-week-old male saline- and VPA-exposed offspring were bilaterally implanted with DBS system (Day 0) followed by a 7 day recovery. HF-DBS (120 Hz, 150 µA, 90 µs) was continuously applied for 18 days (Day 11–29) and turned off on day 29. The autism-like related behavioural tests were performed on day 7, 13, 18, 25 and 36. The spatial learning and cognitive rigidity tests were performed on day 11 for 20 days. IPG implantable pulse generator, GI granular insular cortex, DI dysgranular insular cortex, AI agranular insular cortex. The schematic diagrams of rat brain coronal sections were adapted from the atlas of Paxinos and Watson [27]

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