US, Nov. 11 -- Awake deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery can provide information beyond what imaging alone can capture, helping clinicians personalize electrode placement for patients with essential tremor, according to a Mayo Clinic study published in Operative Neurosurgery.

DBS surgery involves implanting thin wires with electrodes, known as leads, into specific areas of the brain. The electrodes deliver electrical impulses that affect brain activity and can be used to treat brain disorders such as essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and dystonia. Imaging helps clinicians plan where to place the leads.

"In many patients, following a standard target based on imaging can lead to optimal therapy. But sometimes the best lead location ...