The electrode is connected to a wire run beneath the skin to a stimulator placed in the chest wall. When electrical current is activated it modifies the function of the target site. The principal advantage of stimulation is that it provides a degree of control. The stimulator can be adjusted externally using a programmer with an electromagnetic head. If a side effect occurs due to electrical stimulation, the stimulation can be reduced and the side effect will resolve.
Implantation involves the delivery of tissue or other material into a target site.
It is hoped that implanted cells can replace lost neurons to restore function. Neurologists and neurosurgeons have explored various ways of grafting dopamine-producing cells in the brain rather than trying to correct the neurotransmitter imbalance with drugs. One promising approach uses fetal-tissue implants. Some improvements have been observed, but because of the source of the cells, the technique is highly controversial. Alternative dopamine-producing cell lines are being developed.