Cellular mechanisms of deep brain stimulation: activity-dependent focal circuit reprogramming?

•Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an invasive form of neuromodulation well-established for the treatment of movement disorders.•Growing investigational uses of DBS encompass disorders of mood, compulsion and cognition.•DBS has neurophysiological effects both at the site of stimulation and in distal distributed networks, and promotes neuroplastic circuit reorganization.•DBS potentially treats compulsions by reversing hyperconnectivity in the cortico-striatal ‘habit’ network.•DBS potentially restores mood by disinhibiting monoaminergic systems.