Deep brain stimulation on the external segment of the globus pallidus improves the electrical activity of internal segment of globus pallidus in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

•Our results showed that long-term GPe-DBS could improve execution disorders in the vibrissae-evoked forelimb placing and the adjusting-steps tests.•GPe-DBS could reverse the alterations of neuronal activities of GPi at both single-cell and population levels in parkinsonism rats.•The findings provide evidence for the GPe as a DBS target for PD treatment and an insight into the neural mechanisms underlying long-term DBS therapeutic effects for PD.