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Transcranial ultrasound stimulation of the human motor cortex. iScience 2021; 24:103429. [PMID: 34901788 PMCID: PMC8637484 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been 40 years since the report of long-term synaptic plasticity on the rodent brain. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) shows advantages in spatial resolution and penetration depth when compared with electrical or magnetic stimulation. The repetitive TUS (rTUS) can induce cortical excitability alteration on animals, and persistent aftereffects were observed. However, the effects of rTUS on synaptic plasticity in humans remain unelucidated. In the current study, we applied a 15-min rTUS protocol to stimulate left primary motor cortex (l-M1) in 24 male healthy participants. The single-pulsed transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked motor evoked potential and Stop-signal task was applied to measure the rTUS aftereffects. Here, we report that conditioning the human motor cortex using rTUS may produce long-lasting and statistically significant effects on motor cortex excitability as well as motor behavior, without harmful side effects observed. These findings suggest a considerable potential of rTUS in cortical plasticity modulation and clinical intervention for impulsivity-related disorders.
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102
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Vion-Bailly J, Suarez-Castellanos IM, Chapelon JY, Carpentier A, N'Djin WA. Neurostimulation success rate of repetitive-pulse focused ultrasound in an in vivo giant axon model: An acoustic parametric study. Med Phys 2021; 49:682-701. [PMID: 34796512 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a promising tool to develop new modalities of therapeutic neurostimulation. The ability of FUS to stimulate the nervous system, in a noninvasive and spatiotemporally precise manner, has been demonstrated in animals and human subjects, but the underlying biomechanisms are not fully understood yet. The objective of the present study was to investigate the bioeffects involved in the generation of trains of action potentials (APs) by repetitive-pulse FUS stimuli in a simple invertebrate neural model. METHODS The respective influences of different acoustic parameters on the neurostimulation success rate (NSR), defined as the rate of FUS stimuli capable of evoking at least one AP, were explored using the system of afferent nerves and giant fibers of Lumbricus terrestris as neural model. Each parameter was studied independently by administering random FUS sequences while keeping all but one FUS parameter constant. The NSR was evaluated as a function of (i) the spatial-average pulse-average intensity (Isapa ); (ii) the pulse duration (PD); (iii) the pulse repetition frequency (PRF); iv) the number of cycles per pulse (Ncycles ); (v) two ultrasound frequencies, f0 = 1.1 MHz and f3 = 3.3 MHz, corresponding to the fundamental and third-harmonic resonant frequencies of the FUS transducer, respectively (spherical, radius of curvature: 50 mm); and (vi) levels of emerging stable cavitation and inertial cavitation. RESULTS The NSR associated to 1.1 MHz repetitive-pulse FUS stimuli was found to increase as a function of increasing Isapa , PD, PRF, and Ncycles . When evaluating each parameter at f = 1.1 MHz, it was observed that NSRs close to 100% were achieved when sufficiently elevating their respective values. When computing the NSR as a function of the spatial-average, temporal-average intensity (Isata ), defined as the product of PRF, PD, and Isapa , a significant elevation of the NSR from 0% to close to 100% was measured by increasing Isata from values approximate to 4 W/cm2 to values higher than 12 W/cm2 . No clear and consistent trend was observed in trials aimed at exploring the effects of different levels of stable and inertial acoustic cavitation on the NSR. Finally, the feasibility of inducing neural responses with 3.3 MHz repetitive-pulse FUS stimuli was also demonstrated with NSRs reaching up to 60%, in the range of FUS parameters studied. CONCLUSION The time-averaged value of the radiation force per unit volume of tissue is proportional to the acoustic intensity. As a result, the observations from this study suggest that the neural structure responding to the stimulus is sensitive to the mean radiation force carried by the FUS sequence, regardless of the combination of FUS parameters giving rise to such force. The results from this study further revealed the existence of a minimal activation threshold with regard to Isapa .
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Vion-Bailly
- LabTAU, INSERM, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Lyon 1, Univ Lyon, F-69003, Lyon, France
| | | | - Jean-Yves Chapelon
- LabTAU, INSERM, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Lyon 1, Univ Lyon, F-69003, Lyon, France
| | - Alexandre Carpentier
- AP-HP, Neurosurgery department, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.,Sorbonne University, GRC23, Interface Neuro Machine Team, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - W Apoutou N'Djin
- LabTAU, INSERM, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Lyon 1, Univ Lyon, F-69003, Lyon, France
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103
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Hou X, Qiu Z, Xian Q, Kala S, Jing J, Wong KF, Zhu J, Guo J, Zhu T, Yang M, Sun L. Precise Ultrasound Neuromodulation in a Deep Brain Region Using Nano Gas Vesicles as Actuators. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2101934. [PMID: 34546652 PMCID: PMC8564444 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202101934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound is a promising new modality for non-invasive neuromodulation. Applied transcranially, it can be focused down to the millimeter or centimeter range. The ability to improve the treatment's spatial resolution to a targeted brain region could help to improve its effectiveness, depending upon the application. The present paper details a neurostimulation scheme using gas-filled nanostructures, gas vesicles (GVs), as actuators for improving the efficacy and precision of ultrasound stimuli. Sonicated primary neurons display dose-dependent, repeatable Ca2+ responses, closely synced to stimuli, and increased nuclear expression of the activation marker c-Fos in the presence of GVs. GV-mediated ultrasound triggered rapid and reversible Ca2+ responses in vivo and could selectively evoke neuronal activation in a deep-seated brain region. Further investigation indicate that mechanosensitive ion channels are important mediators of this effect. GVs themselves and the treatment scheme are also found not to induce significant cytotoxicity, apoptosis, or membrane poration in treated cells. Altogether, this study demonstrates a simple and effective method to achieve enhanced and better-targeted neurostimulation with non-invasive low-intensity ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuandi Hou
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
| | - Zhihai Qiu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
| | - Quanxiang Xian
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
| | - Shashwati Kala
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
| | - Jianing Jing
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
| | - Kin Fung Wong
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
| | - Jiejun Zhu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
| | - Jinghui Guo
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
| | - Ting Zhu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
| | - Minyi Yang
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
| | - Lei Sun
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHung HomHong Kong SAR999077P. R. China
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104
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Kim HC, Lee W, Kunes J, Yoon K, Lee JE, Foley L, Kowsari K, Yoo SS. Transcranial focused ultrasound modulates cortical and thalamic motor activity in awake sheep. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19274. [PMID: 34588588 PMCID: PMC8481295 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98920-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial application of pulsed low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) modulates the excitability of region-specific brain areas, and anesthetic confounders on brain activity warrant the evaluation of the technique in awake animals. We examined the neuromodulatory effects of FUS in unanesthetized sheep by developing a custom-fit headgear capable of reproducibly placing an acoustic focus on the unilateral motor cortex (M1) and corresponding thalamic area. The efferent responses to sonication, based on the acoustic parameters previously identified in anesthetized sheep, were measured using electromyography (EMG) from both hind limbs across three experimental conditions: on-target sonication, off-target sonication, and without sonication. Excitatory sonication yielded greater amplitude of EMG signals obtained from the hind limb contralateral to sonication than that from the ipsilateral limb. Spurious appearance of motion-related EMG signals limited the amount of analyzed data (~ 10% selection of acquired data) during excitatory sonication, and the averaged EMG response rates elicited by the M1 and thalamic stimulations were 7.5 ± 1.4% and 6.7 ± 1.5%, respectively. Suppressive sonication, while sheep walked on the treadmill, temporarily reduced the EMG amplitude from the limb contralateral to sonication. No significant change was found in the EMG amplitudes during the off-target sonication. Behavioral observation throughout the study and histological analysis showed no sign of brain tissue damage caused by the acoustic stimulation. Marginal response rates observed during excitatory sonication call for technical refinement to reduce motion artifacts during EMG acquisitions as well as acoustic aberration correction schemes to improve spatial accuracy of sonication. Yet, our results indicate that low-intensity FUS modulated the excitability of regional brain tissues reversibly and safely in awake sheep, supporting its potential in theragnostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Chul Kim
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Wonhye Lee
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jennifer Kunes
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kyungho Yoon
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ji Eun Lee
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Lori Foley
- Translational Discovery Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kavin Kowsari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seung-Schik Yoo
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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105
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Zhang T, Pan N, Wang Y, Liu C, Hu S. Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: A Review of the Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects on Brain Activity in Human and Animals. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:749162. [PMID: 34650419 PMCID: PMC8507972 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.749162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive neuromodulation technology is important for the treatment of brain diseases. The effects of focused ultrasound on neuronal activity have been investigated since the 1920s. Low intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) can exert non-destructive mechanical pressure effects on cellular membranes and ion channels and has been shown to modulate the activity of peripheral nerves, spinal reflexes, the cortex, and even deep brain nuclei, such as the thalamus. It has obvious advantages in terms of security and spatial selectivity. This technology is considered to have broad application prospects in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and neuropsychiatric disorders. This review synthesizes animal and human research outcomes and offers an integrated description of the excitatory and inhibitory effects of tFUS in varying experimental and disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China
| | - Na Pan
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China
| | - Yuping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China
- Center of Epilepsy, Institute of Sleep and Consciousness Disorders, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China
| | - Shimin Hu
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China
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106
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Xia X, Fomenko A, Nankoo JF, Zeng K, Wang Y, Zhang J, Lozano AM, Chen R. Time course of the effects of low-intensity transcranial ultrasound on the excitability of ipsilateral and contralateral human primary motor cortex. Neuroimage 2021; 243:118557. [PMID: 34487826 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a promising non-invasive brain stimulation technique that can modulate the excitability of cortical and deep brain structures with a high degree of focality. Previous human studies showed that TUS decreases motor cortex (M1) excitability measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), but whether the effects appear beyond sonication and whether TUS affects the excitability of other interconnected cortical areas is not known. The time course of M1 TUS on ipsilateral and contralateral M1 excitability was investigated in 22 healthy human subjects via TMS-induced motor-evoked potentials. With sonication duration of 500 ms, we found suppression of M1 excitability from 10 ms before to 20 ms after the end of sonication, and the effects were stronger with blocked design compared to interleaved design. There was no significant effect on contralateral M1 excitability. Using ex-vivo measurements, we showed that the ultrasound transducer did not affect the magnitude or time course of the TMS-induced electromagnetic field. We conclude that the online-suppressive effects of TUS on ipsilateral M1 cortical excitability slightly outlast the sonication but did not produce long-lasting effects. The absence of contralateral effects may suggest that there are little tonic interhemispheric interactions in the resting state, or the intensity of TUS was too low to induce transcallosal inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Xia
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China; Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anton Fomenko
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Ke Zeng
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yanqiu Wang
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China; Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Andres M Lozano
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Chen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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107
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Meng Y, Pople CB, Lea-Banks H, Hynynen K, Lipsman N, Hamani C. Focused ultrasound neuromodulation. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2021; 159:221-240. [PMID: 34446247 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging modality for performing incisionless neurosurgical procedures including thermoablation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) modulation. Emerging evidence suggests that low intensity FUS can also be used for neuromodulation with several benefits, including high spatial precision and the possibility of targeting deep brain regions. Here we review the existing data regarding the biological mechanisms of FUS neuromodulation, the characteristics of neuronal activity altered by FUS, emerging indications for FUS neuromodulation, as well as the strengths and limitations of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Meng
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher B Pople
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Harriet Lea-Banks
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nir Lipsman
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Clement Hamani
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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108
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Klink PC, Aubry JF, Ferrera VP, Fox AS, Froudist-Walsh S, Jarraya B, Konofagou EE, Krauzlis RJ, Messinger A, Mitchell AS, Ortiz-Rios M, Oya H, Roberts AC, Roe AW, Rushworth MFS, Sallet J, Schmid MC, Schroeder CE, Tasserie J, Tsao DY, Uhrig L, Vanduffel W, Wilke M, Kagan I, Petkov CI. Combining brain perturbation and neuroimaging in non-human primates. Neuroimage 2021; 235:118017. [PMID: 33794355 PMCID: PMC11178240 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain perturbation studies allow detailed causal inferences of behavioral and neural processes. Because the combination of brain perturbation methods and neural measurement techniques is inherently challenging, research in humans has predominantly focused on non-invasive, indirect brain perturbations, or neurological lesion studies. Non-human primates have been indispensable as a neurobiological system that is highly similar to humans while simultaneously being more experimentally tractable, allowing visualization of the functional and structural impact of systematic brain perturbation. This review considers the state of the art in non-human primate brain perturbation with a focus on approaches that can be combined with neuroimaging. We consider both non-reversible (lesions) and reversible or temporary perturbations such as electrical, pharmacological, optical, optogenetic, chemogenetic, pathway-selective, and ultrasound based interference methods. Method-specific considerations from the research and development community are offered to facilitate research in this field and support further innovations. We conclude by identifying novel avenues for further research and innovation and by highlighting the clinical translational potential of the methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Christiaan Klink
- Department of Vision & Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Jean-François Aubry
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm U1273, CNRS UMR 8063, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Vincent P Ferrera
- Department of Neuroscience & Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew S Fox
- Department of Psychology & California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Béchir Jarraya
- NeuroSpin, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, Université Paris-Saclay, France; Foch Hospital, UVSQ, Suresnes, France
| | - Elisa E Konofagou
- Ultrasound and Elasticity Imaging Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard J Krauzlis
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Adam Messinger
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anna S Mitchell
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Ortiz-Rios
- Newcastle University Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom; German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hiroyuki Oya
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa, Iowa city, IA, USA
| | - Angela C Roberts
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Wang Roe
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| | | | - Jérôme Sallet
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208 Bron, France; Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Christoph Schmid
- Newcastle University Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom; Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 5, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Charles E Schroeder
- Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jordy Tasserie
- NeuroSpin, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, Université Paris-Saclay, France
| | - Doris Y Tsao
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience; Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Computation and Neural Systems, Caltech, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Lynn Uhrig
- NeuroSpin, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, Université Paris-Saclay, France
| | - Wim Vanduffel
- Laboratory for Neuro- and Psychophysiology, Neurosciences Department, KU Leuven Medical School, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven Belgium; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Melanie Wilke
- German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Department of Cognitive Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Igor Kagan
- German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Christopher I Petkov
- Newcastle University Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom.
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109
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Bakaric M, Fromme P, Hurrell A, Rajagopal S, Miloro P, Zeqiri B, Cox BT, Treeby BE. Measurement of the temperature-dependent output of lead zirconate titanate transducers. ULTRASONICS 2021; 114:106378. [PMID: 33582459 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2021.106378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The effect of temperature and electrical drive conditions on the output of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducers is of particular interest in ultrasound metrology and medical ultrasound applications. In this work, the temperature-dependent output of two single-element PZT transducers was measured between 22 °C and 46 °C. Two independent measurement methods were used, namely radiation force balance measurements and laser vibrometry. When driven at constant voltage using a 50 Ω matched signal generator and amplifier using continuous wave (CW) or quasi-CW excitation, the output of the two transducers increased on average by 0.6 % per degree, largely due to an increase in transducer efficiency with temperature. The two measurement methods showed close agreement. Similar trends were observed when using single cycle excitation with the same signal chain. However, when driven using a pulser (which is not electrically matched), the two transducers exhibited different behaviour depending on their electrical impedance. Accounting for the temperature-dependent output of PZT transducers could have implications for many areas of ultrasound metrology, for example, in therapeutic ultrasound where a coupling fluid at an increased or decreased temperature is often used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Bakaric
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK; Centre for Chemical, Environmental and Medical Science, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK.
| | - Paul Fromme
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Hurrell
- Precision Acoustics Ltd., Higher Bockhampton, Dorchester, UK
| | - Srinath Rajagopal
- Centre for Chemical, Environmental and Medical Science, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
| | - Piero Miloro
- Centre for Chemical, Environmental and Medical Science, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
| | - Bajram Zeqiri
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK; Centre for Chemical, Environmental and Medical Science, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
| | - Benjamin T Cox
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Bradley E Treeby
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
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110
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Baek H, Yang Y, Pacia CP, Xu L, Yue Y, Bruchas MR, Chen H. Mechanical and mechanothermal effects of focused ultrasound elicited distinct electromyographic responses in mice. Phys Med Biol 2021; 66. [PMID: 34098539 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ac08b1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare focused ultrasound (FUS) neuromodulation-induced motor responses under two physical mechanisms: mechanical and mechanothermal effects. Mice were divided into two groups. One group was subjected to short-duration FUS stimulation (0.3 s) that induced mechanical effects (mechanical group). The other group underwent long-duration FUS stimulation (15 s) that produced not only mechanical but also thermal effects (mechanothermal group). FUS was targeted at the deep cerebellar nucleus in the cerebellum to induce motor responses, which were evaluated by recording the evoked electromyographic (EMG) signals and tail movements. Brain tissue temperature rise associated with the FUS stimulation was quantified by noninvasive magnetic resonance thermometryin vivo. Temperature rise was negligible for the mechanical group (0.2 °C ± 0.1 °C) but did rise within the range of 0.6 °C ± 0.2 °C-3.3 °C ± 0.9 °C for the mechanothermal group. The elongated FUS beam also induced heating in the dorsal brain (below the top skull) and ventral brain (above the bottom skull) along the beam path for the mechanothermal group. Both mechanical and mechanothermal groups achieved successful FUS neuromodulation. EMG response latencies were within the range of 0.03-0.1 s at different intensity levels for the mechanical group. The mechanothermal effect of FUS could induce both short-latency EMG (0.2-1.4 s) and long-latency EMG (8.7-13.0 s) under the same intensity levels as the mechanical group. The different temporal dynamics of evoked EMG suggested that FUS-induced mechanical and mechanothermal effects could evoke different responses in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongchae Baek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, United States of America
| | - Yaoheng Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, United States of America
| | - Christopher Pham Pacia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, United States of America
| | - Lu Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, United States of America
| | - Yimei Yue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, United States of America
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Center for Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion. University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States of America
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, United States of America.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63108, United States of America
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111
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Stern JM, Spivak NM, Becerra SA, Kuhn TP, Korb AS, Kronemyer D, Khanlou N, Reyes SD, Monti MM, Schnakers C, Walshaw P, Keselman I, Cohen MS, Yong W, Fried I, Jordan SE, Schafer ME, Engel J, Bystritsky A. Safety of focused ultrasound neuromodulation in humans with temporal lobe epilepsy. Brain Stimul 2021; 14:1022-1031. [PMID: 34198105 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Transcranial Focused Ultrasound (tFUS) is a promising new potential neuromodulation tool. However, the safety of tFUS neuromodulation has not yet been assessed adequately. Patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy electing to undergo an anterior temporal lobe resection present a unique opportunity to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tFUS neuromodulation. Histological changes in tissue after tFUS can be examined after surgical resection, while further potential safety concerns can be assessed using neuropsychological testing. METHODS Neuropsychological functions were assessed in eight patients before and after focused ultrasound sonication of the temporal lobe at intensities up to 5760 mW/cm2. Using the BrainSonix Pulsar 1002, tFUS was delivered under MR guidance, using the Siemens Magnetom 3T Prisma scanner. Neuropsychological changes were assessed using various batteries. Histological changes were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, among others. RESULTS With respect to safety, the histological analysis did not reveal any detectable damage to the tissue, except for one subject for whom the histology findings were inconclusive. In addition, neuropsychological testing did not show any statistically significant changes in any test, except for a slight decrease in performance on one of the tests after tFUS. SIGNIFICANCE This study supports the hypothesis that low-intensity Transcranial Focused Ultrasound (tFUS) used for neuromodulation of brain circuits at intensities up to 5760 mW/cm2 may be safe for use in human research. However, due to methodological limitations in this study and inconclusive findings, more work is warranted to establish the safety. Future directions include greater number of sonications as well as longer exposure at higher intensity levels to further assess the safety of tFUS for modulation of neuronal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Stern
- Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Norman M Spivak
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Sergio A Becerra
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Taylor P Kuhn
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Alexander S Korb
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; BrainSonix Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David Kronemyer
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Négar Khanlou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Samuel D Reyes
- Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Martin M Monti
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Department of Psychology, UCLA College of Letters and Science, USA; Brain Research Institute, UCLA, USA
| | | | - Patricia Walshaw
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Inna Keselman
- Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Mark S Cohen
- Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Department of Psychology, UCLA College of Letters and Science, USA; Department of Radiology, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Department of Biomedical Physics, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Department of Bioengineering, UCLA School of Engineering, USA; California Nanosystems Institute, UCLA, USA; Brain Research Institute, UCLA, USA
| | - William Yong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Itzhak Fried
- Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Brain Research Institute, UCLA, USA
| | - Sheldon E Jordan
- Neurology Management Associates- Los Angeles, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Mark E Schafer
- BrainSonix Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA; School of Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jerome Engel
- Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurobiology, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Brain Research Institute, UCLA, USA
| | - Alexander Bystritsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; BrainSonix Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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112
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Opie NL, O'Brien TJ. The potential of closed-loop endovascular neurostimulation as a viable therapeutic approach for drug-resistant epilepsy: A critical review. Artif Organs 2021; 46:337-348. [PMID: 34101849 DOI: 10.1111/aor.14007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Over the last few decades, biomedical implants have successfully delivered therapeutic electrical stimulation to reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in people with drug-resistant epilepsy. However, neurostimulation approaches require invasive surgery to implant stimulating electrodes, and surgical, medical, and hardware complications are not uncommon. An endovascular approach provides a potentially safer and less invasive surgical alternative. This article critically evaluates the feasibility of endovascular closed-loop neuromodulation for the treatment of epilepsy. By reviewing literature that reported the impact of direct electrical stimulation to reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures, we identified clinically validated extracranial, cortical, and deep cortical neural targets. We identified veins in close proximity to these targets and evaluated the potential of delivering an endovascular implant to these veins based on their diameter. We then compared the risks and benefits of existing technology to describe a benchmark of clinical safety and efficacy that would need to be achieved for endovascular neuromodulation to provide therapeutic benefit. For the majority of brain regions that have been clinically demonstrated to reduce seizure occurrence in response to delivered electrical stimulation, vessels of appropriate diameter for delivery of an endovascular electrode to these regions could be achieved. This includes delivery to the vagus nerve via the 13.2 ± 0.9 mm diameter internal jugular vein, the motor cortex via the 6.5 ± 1.7 mm diameter superior sagittal sinus, and the cerebellum via the 7.7 ± 1.4 mm diameter sigmoid sinus or 6.2 ± 1.4 mm diameter transverse sinus. Deep cerebral targets can also be accessed with an endovascular approach, with the 1.9 ± 0.5 mm diameter internal cerebral vein and 1.2-mm-diameter thalamostriate vein lying in close proximity to the anterior and centromedian nuclei of the thalamus, respectively. This work identified numerous veins that are in close proximity to conventional stimulation targets that are of a diameter large enough for delivery and deployment of an endovascular electrode array, supporting future work to assess clinical efficacy and chronic safety of an endovascular approach to deliver therapeutic neurostimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas L Opie
- Vascular Bionics Laboratory, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Synchron Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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113
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Yu K, Liu C, Niu X, He B. Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation of Voluntary Movement-Related Cortical Activity in Humans. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2021; 68:1923-1931. [PMID: 33055021 PMCID: PMC8046844 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2020.3030892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is an emerging non-invasive brain stimulation tool for safely and reversibly modulating brain circuits. The effectiveness of tFUS on human brain has been demonstrated, but how tFUS influences the human voluntary motor processing in the brain remains unclear. METHODS We apply low-intensity tFUS to modulate the movement-related cortical potential (MRCP) originating from human subjects practicing a voluntary foot tapping task. 64-channel electroencephalograph (EEG) is recorded concurrently and further used to reconstruct the brain source activity specifically at the primary leg motor cortical area using the electrophysiological source imaging (ESI). RESULTS The ESI illustrates the ultrasound modulated MRCP source dynamics with high spatiotemporal resolutions. The MRCP source is imaged and its source profile is further evaluated for assessing the tFUS neuromodulatory effects on the voluntary MRCP. Moreover, the effect of ultrasound pulse repetition frequency (UPRF) is further assessed in modulating the MRCP. The ESI results show that tFUS significantly increases the MRCP source profile amplitude (MSPA) comparing to a sham ultrasound condition, and further, a high UPRF enhances the MSPA more than a low UPRF does. CONCLUSION The present results demonstrate the neuromodulatory effects of the low-intensity tFUS on enhancing the human voluntary movement-related cortical activities evidenced through the ESI. SIGNIFICANCE This work provides the first evidence of tFUS enhancing the human endogenous motor cortical activities through excitatory modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Yu
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Xiaodan Niu
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Bin He
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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114
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Effects of Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation on Trigeminal Blink Reflex Excitability. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11050645. [PMID: 34063492 PMCID: PMC8156436 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates that transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) modulates sensorimotor cortex excitability. However, no study has assessed possible TUS effects on the excitability of deeper brain areas, such as the brainstem. In this study, we investigated whether TUS delivered on the substantia nigra, superior colliculus, and nucleus raphe magnus modulates the excitability of trigeminal blink reflex, a reliable neurophysiological technique to assess brainstem functions in humans. The recovery cycle of the trigeminal blink reflex (interstimulus intervals of 250 and 500 ms) was tested before (T0), and 3 (T1) and 30 min (T2) after TUS. The effects of substantia nigra-TUS, superior colliculus-TUS, nucleus raphe magnus-TUS and sham-TUS were assessed in separate and randomized sessions. In the superior colliculus-TUS session, the conditioned R2 area increased at T1 compared with T0, while T2 and T0 values did not differ. Results were independent of the interstimulus intervals tested and were not related to trigeminal blink reflex baseline (T0) excitability. Conversely, the conditioned R2 area was comparable at T0, T1, and T2 in the nucleus raphe magnus-TUS and substantia nigra-TUS sessions. Our findings demonstrate that the excitability of brainstem circuits, as evaluated by testing the recovery cycle of the trigeminal blink reflex, can be increased by TUS. This result may reflect the modulation of inhibitory interneurons within the superior colliculus.
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115
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Yang Y, Pacia CP, Ye D, Zhu L, Baek H, Yue Y, Yuan J, Miller MJ, Cui J, Culver JP, Bruchas MR, Chen H. Sonothermogenetics for noninvasive and cell-type specific deep brain neuromodulation. Brain Stimul 2021; 14:790-800. [PMID: 33989819 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Critical advances in the investigation of brain functions and treatment of brain disorders are hindered by our inability to selectively target neurons in a noninvasive manner in the deep brain. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to develop sonothermogenetics for noninvasive, deep-penetrating, and cell-type-specific neuromodulation by combining a thermosensitive ion channel TRPV1 with focused ultrasound (FUS)-induced brief, non-noxious thermal effect. METHODS The sensitivity of TRPV1 to FUS sonication was evaluated in vitro. It was followed by in vivo assessment of sonothermogenetics in the activation of genetically defined neurons in the mouse brain by two-photon calcium imaging. Behavioral response evoked by sonothermogenetic stimulation at a deep brain target was recorded in freely moving mice. Immunohistochemistry staining of ex vivo brain slices was performed to evaluate the safety of FUS sonication. RESULTS TRPV1 was found to be an ultrasound-sensitive ion channel. FUS sonication at the mouse brain in vivo selectively activated neurons that were genetically modified to express TRPV1. Temporally precise activation of TRPV1-expressing neurons was achieved with its success rate linearly correlated with the peak temperature within the FUS-targeted brain region as measured by in vivo magnetic resonance thermometry. FUS stimulation of TRPV1-expressing neurons at the striatum repeatedly evoked locomotor behavior in freely moving mice. FUS sonication was confirmed to be safe based on inspection of neuronal integrity, inflammation, and apoptosis markers. CONCLUSIONS This noninvasive and cell-type-specific neuromodulation approach with the capability to stimulate deep brain has the promise to advance the study of the intact nervous system and uncover new ways to treat neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoheng Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Christopher Pham Pacia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Dezhuang Ye
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Lifei Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Hongchae Baek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Yimei Yue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Jinyun Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Mark J Miller
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jianmin Cui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Joseph P Culver
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Physics, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Center for Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion. University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
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116
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Li X, Xiong H, Rommelfanger N, Xu X, Youn J, Slesinger PA, Hong G, Qin Z. Nanotransducers for Wireless Neuromodulation. MATTER 2021; 4:1484-1510. [PMID: 33997768 PMCID: PMC8117115 DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2021.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the signal transmission and processing within the central nervous system (CNS) is a grand challenge in neuroscience. The past decade has witnessed significant advances in the development of new tools to address this challenge. Development of these new tools draws diverse expertise from genetics, materials science, electrical engineering, photonics and other disciplines. Among these tools, nanomaterials have emerged as a unique class of neural interfaces due to their small size, remote coupling and conversion of different energy modalities, various delivery methods, and mitigated chronic immune responses. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in nanotransducers to modulate and interface with the neural system without physical wires. Nanotransducers work collectively to modulate brain activity through optogenetic, mechanical, thermal, electrical and chemical modalities. We will compare important parameters among these techniques including the invasiveness, spatiotemporal precision, cell-type specificity, brain penetration, and translation to large animals and humans. Important areas for future research include a better understanding of the nanomaterials-brain interface, integration of sensing capability for bidirectional closed-loop neuromodulation, and genetically engineered functional materials for cell-type specific neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuying Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Hejian Xiong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Nicholas Rommelfanger
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Xueqi Xu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Jonghae Youn
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Paul A. Slesinger
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY,10029, USA
| | - Guosong Hong
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Zhenpeng Qin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75080, USA
- The Center for Advanced Pain Studies, The University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75080, USA
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117
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Yu K, Niu X, Krook-Magnuson E, He B. Intrinsic functional neuron-type selectivity of transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2519. [PMID: 33947867 PMCID: PMC8097024 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22743-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is a promising neuromodulation technique, but its mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesize that if tFUS parameters exhibit distinct modulation effects in different neuron populations, then the mechanism can be understood through identifying unique features in these neuron populations. In this work, we investigate the effect of tFUS stimulation on different functional neuron types in in vivo anesthetized rodent brains. Single neuron recordings were separated into regular-spiking and fast-spiking units based on their extracellular spike shapes acquired through intracranial electrophysiological recordings, and further validated in transgenic optogenetic mice models of light-excitable excitatory and inhibitory neurons. We show that excitatory and inhibitory neurons are intrinsically different in response to ultrasound pulse repetition frequency (PRF). The results suggest that we can preferentially target specific neuron types noninvasively by tuning the tFUS PRF. Chemically deafened rats and genetically deafened mice were further tested for validating the directly local neural effects induced by tFUS without potential auditory confounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Xiaodan Niu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Bin He
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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118
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Lin Z, Bian T, Zhou W, Wang Y, Huang X, Zou J, Zhou H, Niu L, Tang J, Meng L. Modulation of Neuronal Excitability by Low- Intensity Ultrasound in Two Principal Neurons of Rat Anteroventral Cochlear Nucleus. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2021; 68:1752-1761. [PMID: 33460373 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2021.3052203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasonic neuromodulation has proved to be a promising new approach for direct neuromodulation or potential noninvasive deep brain stimulation technology for treating various neurological disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated that ultrasonic waves can noninvasively diffuse through the intact skull and thus precisely target specific brain regions with high spatial resolution. However, its neuromodulatory effects over different cell types of target nuclei have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the neuronal excitability resulted from ultrasound stimulation on the two major neurons of anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) in vitro. Our results demonstrated that bushy cells (BCs) were well maintaining one action potential (AP) in response to the pairing of a sequence of depolarizing current pulses and 60-s continuous low-intensity ultrasound (LIUS), and meanwhile, stellate cells (SCs) significantly increased the firing rate. The ultrasonic waves with an acoustic pressure of 0.13 MPa were elicited by an on-chip ultrasonic stimulation system compatible with patch-clamp recording. Furthermore, LIUS significantly improved the neuronal excitability in both BCs and SCs based on their intrinsic excitability. Modulation of membrane properties among cell types was due to the LIUS-induced increase in the total inward sodium currents ( INa ) and outward potassium currents ( IKv ). LIUS significantly, at a similar rate, increased the amplitude of total inward sodium currents in both cell types. Meanwhile, LIUS induces a higher rate of the outward potassium currents in the BCs compared with SCs. Therefore, this study could provide new evidence for safe use of ultrasonic neuromodulation and its potential therapy for many auditory diseases, such as the central auditory processing disorder.
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119
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Zhang Z, Liu R, Li G, Su M, Li F, Zheng H, Qiu W. A Dual-mode 2D Matrix Array for Ultrasound Image-guided Noninvasive Therapy. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2021; 68:3482-3490. [PMID: 33872140 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2021.3073951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (FUS) lacks reliable real-time image guidance, which hinders the development of non-invasive ultrasound treatment in many important clinical applications. A dual-mode ultrasound array, capable of both imaging and therapy offers a new and reliable strategy for image-guided ultrasound therapy applications. The strategy has the advantages of real-time use, low cost, portability and inherent registration between imaging and therapeutic coordinate systems. In this work, a dual-mode two-dimensional (2D) matrix array with 1 MHz center frequency and 256 elements for ultrasound image-guided non-invasive therapy is reported. The array can provide three-dimensional (3D) volumetric ultrasound imaging and 3D focus control. Ultrasound imaging and therapeutic applications for the brain of small animals demonstrated the multi-functional capability of the dual-mode 2D matrix array. A method of rat brain positioning based on ultrasound imaging was proposed and verified. Transcranial ultrasound image-guided bloodbrain barrier (BBB) opening of multiple-targets was achieved in vivo, using the proposed dual-mode 2D array. The obtained results indicate that the dual-mode 2D matrix array is a promising method for practical use in ultrasound image-guided non-invasive therapy applications.
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120
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Yuan D, Tian H, Zhou Y, Wu J, Sun T, Xiao Z, Shang C, Wang J, Chen X, Sun Y, Tang J, Qiu S, Tan LH. Acupoint-brain (acubrain) mapping: Common and distinct cortical language regions activated by focused ultrasound stimulation on two language-relevant acupoints. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2021; 215:104920. [PMID: 33561785 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2021.104920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Acupuncture, taking the advantage of modality-specific neural pathways, has shown promising results in the treatment of brain disorders that affect different modalities such as pain and vision. However, the precise underlying mechanisms of within-modality neuromodulation of acupoints on human high-order cognition remain largely unknown. In the present study, we used a non-invasive and easy-operating method, focused ultrasound, to stimulate two language-relevant acupoints, namely GB39 (Xuanzhong) and SJ8 (Sanyangluo), of thirty healthy adults. The effect of focused ultrasound stimulation (FUS) on brain activation was examined by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We found that stimulating GB39 and SJ8 by FUS evoked overlapping but distinct brain activation patterns. Our findings provide a major step toward within-modality (in this case, language) acupoint-brain (acubrain) mapping and shed light on to the potential use of FUS as a personalized treatment option for brain disorders that affect high-level cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Yuan
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration and Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haoyue Tian
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration and Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yulong Zhou
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration and Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinjian Wu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tong Sun
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhuoni Xiao
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration and Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chunfeng Shang
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiaojian Wang
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xin Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yimin Sun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical Systems Biology Research Center, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Joey Tang
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shijun Qiu
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Li Hai Tan
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration and Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China.
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Livermore JJA, Klaassen FH, Bramson B, Hulsman AM, Meijer SW, Held L, Klumpers F, de Voogd LD, Roelofs K. Approach-Avoidance Decisions Under Threat: The Role of Autonomic Psychophysiological States. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:621517. [PMID: 33867915 PMCID: PMC8044748 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.621517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Acutely challenging or threatening situations frequently require approach-avoidance decisions. Acute threat triggers fast autonomic changes that prepare the body to freeze, fight or flee. However, such autonomic changes may also influence subsequent instrumental approach-avoidance decisions. Since defensive bodily states are often not considered in value-based decision-making models, it remains unclear how they influence the decision-making process. Here, we aim to bridge this gap by discussing the existing literature on the potential role of threat-induced bodily states on decision making and provide a new neurocomputational framework explaining how these effects can facilitate or bias approach-avoid decisions under threat. Theoretical accounts have stated that threat-induced parasympathetic activity is involved in information gathering and decision making. Parasympathetic dominance over sympathetic activity is particularly seen during threat-anticipatory freezing, an evolutionarily conserved response to threat demonstrated across species and characterized by immobility and bradycardia. Although this state of freezing has been linked to altered information processing and action preparation, a full theoretical treatment of the interactions with value-based decision making has not yet been achieved. Our neural framework, which we term the Threat State/Value Integration (TSI) Model, will illustrate how threat-induced bodily states may impact valuation of competing incentives at three stages of the decision-making process, namely at threat evaluation, integration of rewards and threats, and action initiation. Additionally, because altered parasympathetic activity and decision biases have been shown in anxious populations, we will end with discussing how biases in this system can lead to characteristic patterns of avoidance seen in anxiety-related disorders, motivating future pre-clinical and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. A. Livermore
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Felix H. Klaassen
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Bob Bramson
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Anneloes M. Hulsman
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd W. Meijer
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Leslie Held
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Floris Klumpers
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Lycia D. de Voogd
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Karin Roelofs
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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122
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Lee W, Weisholtz DS, Strangman GE, Yoo SS. Safety Review and Perspectives of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Brain Stimulation. BRAIN & NEUROREHABILITATION 2021; 14:e4. [PMID: 36742103 PMCID: PMC9879416 DOI: 10.12786/bn.2021.14.e4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasound is an important theragnostic modality in modern medicine. Technical advancement of both acoustic focusing and transcranial delivery have enabled administration of ultrasound waves to localized brain areas with few millimeters of spatial specificity and penetration depth sufficient to reach the thalamus. Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) given at a low acoustic intensity has been shown to increase or suppress the excitability of region-specific brain areas. The neuromodulatory effects can outlast the sonication, suggesting the possibility of inducing neural plasticity needed for neurorehabilitation. Increasing numbers of studies have shown the efficacy and excellent safety profile of the technique, yet comparisons among the safety-related parameters have not been compiled. This review aims to provide safety information and perspectives of tFUS brain stimulation. First, the acoustic parameters most relevant to thermal/mechanical tissue damage are discussed along with regulated parameters for existing ultrasound therapies/diagnostic imaging. Subsequently, the parameters used in studies of large animals, non-human primates, and humans are surveyed and summarized in terms of the acoustic intensity and the mechanical index. The pulse-mode operation and the use of low ultrasound frequency for tFUS-mediated brain stimulation warrant the establishment of new safety guidelines/recommendations for the use of the technique among healthy volunteers, with additional cautionary requirements for its clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonhye Lee
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel S. Weisholtz
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gary E. Strangman
- Neural Systems Group, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Translational Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Seung-Schik Yoo
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Cain JA, Visagan S, Johnson MA, Crone J, Blades R, Spivak NM, Shattuck DW, Monti MM. Real time and delayed effects of subcortical low intensity focused ultrasound. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6100. [PMID: 33731821 PMCID: PMC7969624 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85504-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep brain nuclei are integral components of large-scale circuits mediating important cognitive and sensorimotor functions. However, because they fall outside the domain of conventional non-invasive neuromodulatory techniques, their study has been primarily based on neuropsychological models, limiting the ability to fully characterize their role and to develop interventions in cases where they are damaged. To address this gap, we used the emerging technology of non-invasive low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to directly modulate left lateralized basal ganglia structures in healthy volunteers. During sonication, we observed local and distal decreases in blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal in the targeted left globus pallidus (GP) and in large-scale cortical networks. We also observed a generalized decrease in relative perfusion throughout the cerebrum following sonication. These results show, for the first time using functional MRI data, the ability to modulate deep-brain nuclei using LIFU while measuring its local and global consequences, opening the door for future applications of subcortical LIFU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Cain
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Pritzker Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Shakthi Visagan
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, USA
| | - Micah A Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Pritzker Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Julia Crone
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Pritzker Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Robin Blades
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Pritzker Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, USA
| | - Norman M Spivak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, USA
- Brain Injury Research Center (BIRC), Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - David W Shattuck
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, USA
| | - Martin M Monti
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Pritzker Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, USA
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Pérez-Neri I, González-Aguilar A, Sandoval H, Pineda C, Ríos C. Therapeutic Potential of Ultrasound Neuromodulation in Decreasing Neuropathic Pain: Clinical and Experimental Evidence. Curr Neuropharmacol 2021; 19:334-348. [PMID: 32691714 PMCID: PMC8033967 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x18666200720175253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background For more than seven decades, ultrasound has been used as an imaging and diagnostic tool. Today, new technologies, such as focused ultrasound (FUS) neuromodulation, have revealed some innovative, potential applications. However, those applications have been barely studied to deal with neuropathic pain (NP), a cluster of chronic pain syndromes with a restricted response to conventional pharmaceuticals. Objective To analyze the therapeutic potential of low-intensity (LIFUS) and high-intensity (HIFUS) FUS for managing NP. Methods We performed a narrative review, including clinical and experimental ultrasound neuromodulation studies published in three main database repositories. Discussion Evidence shows that FUS may influence several mechanisms relevant for neuropathic pain management such as modulation of ion channels, glutamatergic neurotransmission, cerebral blood flow, inflammation and neurotoxicity, neuronal morphology and survival, nerve regeneration, and remyelination. Some experimental models have shown that LIFUS may reduce allodynia after peripheral nerve damage. At the same time, a few clinical studies support its beneficial effect on reducing pain in nerve compression syndromes. In turn, Thalamic HIFUS ablation can reduce NP from several etiologies with minor side-effects, but some neurological sequelae might be permanent. HIFUS is also useful in lowering non-neuropathic pain in several disorders. Conclusion Although an emerging set of studies brings new evidence on the therapeutic potential of both LIFUS and HIFUS for managing NP with minor side-effects, we need more controlled clinical trials to conclude about its safety and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Pérez-Neri
- Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Insurgentes Sur 3877, La Fama, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14269, Mexico
| | - Alberto González-Aguilar
- Neuro-oncology Unit, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugia Manuel Velasco Suarez, Insurgentes Sur 3877, La Fama, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14269, Mexico
| | - Hugo Sandoval
- Sociomedical Research Unit, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Calzada México-Xochimilco 289, Col, Arenal de Guadalupe, Alcaldia Tlalpan, C.P. 14389, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carlos Pineda
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Rheumatic Disorders, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitacion Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 289, Col, Arenal de Guadalupe, Alcaldia Tlalpan, C.P.14389, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Camilo Ríos
- Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Insurgentes Sur 3877, La Fama, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14269, Mexico
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Collins MN, Legon W, Mesce KA. The Inhibitory Thermal Effects of Focused Ultrasound on an Identified, Single Motoneuron. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0514-20.2021. [PMID: 33853851 PMCID: PMC8174046 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0514-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (US) is an emerging neuromodulation technology that has gained much attention because of its ability to modulate, noninvasively, neuronal activity in a variety of animals, including humans. However, there has been considerable debate about exactly which types of neurons can be influenced and what underlying mechanisms are in play. Are US-evoked motor changes driven indirectly by activated mechanosensory inputs, or more directly via central interneurons or motoneurons? Although it has been shown that US can mechanically depolarize mechanosensory neurons, there are no studies that have yet tested how identified motoneurons respond directly to US and what the underlying mechanism might be. Here, we examined the effects of US on a single, identified motoneuron within a well-studied and tractable invertebrate preparation, the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana Our approach aimed to clarify single neuronal responses to US, which may be obscured in other studies whereby US is applied across a diverse population of cells. We found that US has the ability to inhibit tonic spiking activity through a predominately thermal mechanism. US-evoked effects persisted after blocking synaptic inputs, indicating that its actions were direct. Experiments also revealed that US-comparable heating blocked the axonal conduction of spontaneous action potentials. Finally, we found no evidence that US had significant mechanical effects on the neurons tested, a finding counter to prevailing views. We conclude that a non-sensory neuron can be directly inhibited via a thermal mechanism, a finding that holds promise for clinical neuromodulatory applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan N Collins
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
| | - Wynn Legon
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22901
| | - Karen A Mesce
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
- Departments of Entomology and Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
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Popescu T, Pernet C, Beisteiner R. Transcranial ultrasound pulse stimulation reduces cortical atrophy in Alzheimer's patients: A follow-up study. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2021; 7:e12121. [PMID: 33681449 PMCID: PMC7906128 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ultrasound for the brain is a revolutionary therapeutic concept. The first clinical data indicate that 2-4 weeks of therapy with transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) improve functional networks and cognitive performance of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients for up to 3 months. No data currently exist on possible benefits concerning brain morphology, namely the cortical atrophy characteristic of AD. METHODS We performed a pre-/post-therapy analysis of cortical thickness in a group of N = 17 AD patients. RESULTS We found a significant correlation between neuropsychological improvement and cortical thickness increase in AD-critical brain areas. DISCUSSION AD patients who benefit from TPS appear to manifest reduced cortical atrophy within the default mode network in particular, whose memory-related subsystems are believed to be disrupted in AD. TPS may therefore hold promise as a new add-on therapy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tudor Popescu
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of NeurologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Cyril Pernet
- Centre for Clinical Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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Prada F, Franzini A, Moosa S, Padilla F, Moore D, Solbiati L, DiMeco F, Legon W. In vitro and in vivo characterization of a cranial window prosthesis for diagnostic and therapeutic cerebral ultrasound. J Neurosurg 2021; 134:646-658. [PMID: 31899872 DOI: 10.3171/2019.10.jns191674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The authors evaluated the acoustic properties of an implantable, biocompatible, polyolefin-based cranial prosthesis as a medium to transmit ultrasound energy into the intracranial space with minimal distortion for imaging and therapeutic purposes. METHODS The authors performed in vitro and in vivo studies of ultrasound transmission through a cranial prosthesis. In the in vitro phase, they analyzed the transmission of ultrasound energy through the prosthesis in a water tank using various transducers with resonance frequencies corresponding to those of devices used for neurosurgical imaging and therapeutic purposes. Four distinct, single-element, focused transducers were tested at fundamental frequencies of 500 kHz, 1 MHz, 2.5 MHz, and 5 MHz. In addition, the authors tested ultrasound transmission through the prosthesis using a linear diagnostic probe (center frequency 5.3 MHz) with a calibrated needle hydrophone in free water. Each transducer was assessed across a range of input voltages that encompassed their full minimum to maximum range without waveform distortion. They also tested the effect of the prosthesis on beam pressure and geometry. In the in vivo phase, the authors performed ultrasound imaging through the prosthesis implanted in a swine model. RESULTS Acoustic power attenuation through the prosthesis was considerably lower than that reported to occur through the native cranial bone. Increasing the frequency of the transducer augmented the degree of acoustic power loss. The degradation/distortion of the ultrasound beams passing through the prosthesis was minimal in all 3 spatial planes (XY, XZ, and YZ) that were examined. The images acquired in vivo demonstrated no spatial distortion from the prosthesis, with spatial relationships that were superimposable to those acquired through the dura. CONCLUSIONS The results of the tests performed on the polyolefin-based cranial prosthesis indicated that this is a valid medium for delivering both focused and unfocused ultrasound and obtaining ultrasound images of the intracranial space. The prosthesis may serve for several diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound-based applications, including bedside imaging of the brain and ultrasound-guided focused ultrasound cerebral procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Prada
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health System
- 3Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Andrea Franzini
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health System
| | - Shayan Moosa
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health System
| | | | - David Moore
- 3Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Luigi Solbiati
- 4Department of Radiology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Francesco DiMeco
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
- 5Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and
- 6Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Wynn Legon
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health System
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Bian T, Meng W, Qiu M, Zhong Z, Lin Z, Zou J, Wang Y, Huang X, Xu L, Yuan T, Huang Z, Niu L, Meng L, Zheng H. Noninvasive Ultrasound Stimulation of Ventral Tegmental Area Induces Reanimation from General Anaesthesia in Mice. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2021; 2021:2674692. [PMID: 33954291 PMCID: PMC8059556 DOI: 10.34133/2021/2674692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Evidence in animals suggests that deep brain stimulation or optogenetics can be used for recovery from disorders of consciousness (DOC). However, these treatments require invasive procedures. This report presents a noninvasive strategy to stimulate central nervous system neurons selectively for recovery from DOC in mice. Through the delivery of ultrasound energy to the ventral tegmental area, mice were aroused from an unconscious, anaesthetized state in this study, and this process was controlled by adjusting the ultrasound parameters. The mice in the sham group under isoflurane-induced, continuous, steady-state general anaesthesia did not regain their righting reflex. On insonation, the emergence time from inhaled isoflurane anaesthesia decreased (sham: 13.63 ± 0.53 min, ultrasound: 1.5 ± 0.19 min, p < 0.001). Further, the induction time (sham: 12.0 ± 0.6 min, ultrasound: 17.88 ± 0.64 min, p < 0.001) and the concentration for 50% of the maximal effect (EC50) of isoflurane (sham: 0.6%, ultrasound: 0.7%) increased. In addition, ultrasound stimulation reduced the recovery time in mice with traumatic brain injury (sham: 30.38 ± 1.9 min, ultrasound: 7.38 ± 1.02 min, p < 0.01). This noninvasive strategy could be used on demand to promote emergence from DOC and may be a potential treatment for such disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyuan Bian
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, China 518055
| | - Wen Meng
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, China 518055
| | - Meihong Qiu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China 200032
| | - Zhigang Zhong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China 200032
| | - Zhengrong Lin
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, China 518055
| | - Junjie Zou
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, China 518055
| | - Yibo Wang
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, China 518055
| | - Xiaowei Huang
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, China 518055
| | - Lisheng Xu
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, 195 Innovation Road, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Tifei Yuan
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China 200030
| | - Zhili Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China 200032
| | - Lili Niu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, China 518055
| | - Long Meng
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, China 518055
| | - Hairong Zheng
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, China 518055
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Wang Y, Niu L, Meng W, Lin Z, Zou J, Bian T, Huang X, Zhou H, Meng L, Xie P, Zheng H. Ultrasound Stimulation of Periaqueductal Gray Induces Defensive Behaviors. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2021; 68:38-45. [PMID: 32086205 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2020.2975001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Low-intensity focused ultrasound stimulation (LIFUS) has the potential to noninvasively penetrate the intact skull and to modulate neural activity in the cortex and deep brain nuclei. The midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) is associated with the generation of defensive behaviors. The aim of this study was to examine whether LIFUS of the PAG induced defensive behaviors in mice. A 3.8-MHz head-mounted ultrasound transducer with a small focus size (0.5 mm × 0.5 mm) was fabricated in house to precisely stimulate the free-moving mice. The corresponding behaviors were recorded in real time. Avoidance, flight, and freezing were used to assess ultrasound-induced defensive responses. The safety of LIFUS was examined via hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Nissl staining. Ultrasound stimulation of the PAG induced multiple defensive behaviors, including location-specific passive avoidance behavior, flight, and freezing. In addition, H&E and Nissl staining verified that LIFUS did not cause any injury to the brain tissue. These findings demonstrate that LIFUS may have neuromodulatory effects on the innate defensive behaviors in mice. LIFUS may be used as a novel neuromodulatory tool for the treatment of psychological diseases associated with defensive behaviors.
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Huang AS, Rogers BP, Sheffield JM, Jalbrzikowski ME, Anticevic A, Blackford JU, Heckers S, Woodward ND. Thalamic Nuclei Volumes in Psychotic Disorders and in Youths With Psychosis Spectrum Symptoms. Am J Psychiatry 2020; 177:1159-1167. [PMID: 32911995 PMCID: PMC7708443 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19101099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Thalamus models of psychosis implicate association nuclei in the pathogenesis of psychosis and mechanisms of cognitive impairment. Studies to date have provided conflicting findings for structural deficits specific to these nuclei. The authors sought to characterize thalamic structural abnormalities in psychosis and a neurodevelopmental cohort, and to determine whether nuclear volumes were associated with cognitive function. METHODS Thalamic nuclei volumes were tested in a cross-sectional sample of 472 adults (293 with psychosis) and the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC), consisting of 1,393 youths (398 with psychosis spectrum symptoms and 609 with other psychopathologies), using a recently developed, validated method for segmenting thalamic nuclei and complementary voxel-based morphometry. Cognitive function was measured with the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry in the psychosis cohort and the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery in the PNC. RESULTS The psychosis group had smaller pulvinar, mediodorsal, and, to a lesser extent, ventrolateral nuclei volumes compared with the healthy control group. Youths with psychosis spectrum symptoms also had smaller pulvinar volumes, compared with both typically developing youths and youths with other psychopathologies. Pulvinar volumes were positively correlated with general cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS The study findings demonstrate that smaller thalamic association nuclei represent a neurodevelopmental abnormality associated with psychosis, risk for psychosis in youths, and cognitive impairment. Identifying specific thalamic nuclei abnormalities in psychosis has implications for early detection of psychosis risk and treatment of cognitive impairment in psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S. Huang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | | | - Julia M. Sheffield
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | | | - Alan Anticevic
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine
| | - Jennifer Urbano Blackford
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Research Health Scientist, Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Stephan Heckers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Neil D. Woodward
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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Fomenko A, Chen KHS, Nankoo JF, Saravanamuttu J, Wang Y, El-Baba M, Xia X, Seerala SS, Hynynen K, Lozano AM, Chen R. Systematic examination of low-intensity ultrasound parameters on human motor cortex excitability and behavior. eLife 2020; 9:e54497. [PMID: 33236981 PMCID: PMC7728443 DOI: 10.7554/elife.54497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound (TUS) can non-invasively modulate human neural activity. We investigated how different fundamental sonication parameters influence the effects of TUS on the motor cortex (M1) of 16 healthy subjects by probing cortico-cortical excitability and behavior. A low-intensity 500 kHz TUS transducer was coupled to a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil. TMS was delivered 10 ms before the end of TUS to the left M1 hotspot of the first dorsal interosseous muscle. Varying acoustic parameters (pulse repetition frequency, duty cycle, and sonication duration) on motor-evoked potential amplitude were examined. Paired-pulse measures of cortical inhibition and facilitation, and performance on a visuomotor task was also assessed. TUS safely suppressed TMS-elicited motor cortical activity, with longer sonication durations and shorter duty cycles when delivered in a blocked paradigm. TUS increased GABAA-mediated short-interval intracortical inhibition and decreased reaction time on visuomotor task but not when controlled with TUS at near-somatosensory threshold intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Fomenko
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health NetworkTorontoCanada
| | - Kai-Hsiang Stanley Chen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health NetworkTorontoCanada
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu BranchHsin-ChuTaiwan
| | | | | | - Yanqiu Wang
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health NetworkTorontoCanada
| | - Mazen El-Baba
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health NetworkTorontoCanada
| | - Xue Xia
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | | | | | - Andres M Lozano
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health NetworkTorontoCanada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Robert Chen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health NetworkTorontoCanada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
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132
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Manuel TJ, Kusunose J, Zhan X, Lv X, Kang E, Yang A, Xiang Z, Caskey CF. Ultrasound neuromodulation depends on pulse repetition frequency and can modulate inhibitory effects of TTX. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15347. [PMID: 32948791 PMCID: PMC7501284 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72189-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasound is gaining traction as a neuromodulation method due to its ability to remotely and non-invasively modulate neuronal activity with millimeter precision. However, there is little consensus about optimal ultrasound parameters required to elicit neuromodulation and how specific parameters drive mechanisms that underlie ultrasound neuromodulation. We address these questions in this work by performing a study to determine effective ultrasound parameters in a transgenic mouse brain slice model that enables calcium imaging as a quantitative readout of neuronal activity for ultrasound neuromodulation. We report that (1) calcium signaling increases with the application of ultrasound; (2) the neuronal response rate to ultrasound is dependent on pulse repetition frequency (PRF); and (3) ultrasound can reversibly alter the inhibitory effects of tetrodotoxin (TTX) in pharmacological studies. This study offers mechanistic insight into the PRF dependence of ultrasound neuromodulation and the nature of ultrasound/ion channel interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Manuel
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jiro Kusunose
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Zhan
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Xiaohui Lv
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ellison Kang
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Aaron Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Zixiu Xiang
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Charles F Caskey
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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133
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Yu K, Niu X, He B. Neuromodulation Management of Chronic Neuropathic Pain in The Central Nervous system. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2020; 30:1908999. [PMID: 34335132 PMCID: PMC8323399 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201908999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Neuromodulation is becoming one of the clinical tools for treating chronic neuropathic pain by transmitting controlled physical energy to the pre-identified neural targets in the central nervous system. Its nature of drug-free, non-addictive and improved targeting have attracted increasing attention among neuroscience research and clinical practices. This article provides a brief overview of the neuropathic pain and pharmacological routines for treatment, summarizes both the invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation modalities for pain management, and highlights an emerging brain stimulation technology, transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) with a focus on ultrasound transducer devices and the achieved neuromodulation effects and applications on pain management. Practical considerations of spatial guidance for tFUS are discussed for clinical applications. The safety of transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation and its future prospectives on pain management are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bin He
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
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134
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Braun V, Blackmore J, Cleveland RO, Butler CR. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation in humans is associated with an auditory confound that can be effectively masked. Brain Stimul 2020; 13:1527-1534. [PMID: 32891872 PMCID: PMC7710976 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2020.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is emerging as a potentially powerful, non-invasive technique for focal brain stimulation. Recent animal work suggests, however, that TUS effects may be confounded by indirect stimulation of early auditory pathways. Objective We aimed to investigate in human participants whether TUS elicits audible sounds and if these can be masked by an audio signal. Methods In 18 healthy participants, T1-weighted magnetic resonance brain imaging was acquired for 3D ultrasound simulations to determine optimal transducer placements and source amplitudes. Thermal simulations ensured that temperature rises were <0.5 °C at the target and <3 °C in the skull. To test for non-specific auditory activation, TUS (500 kHz, 300 ms burst, modulated at 1 kHz with 50% duty cycle) was applied to primary visual cortex and participants were asked to distinguish stimulation from non-stimulation trials. EEG was recorded throughout the task. Furthermore, ex-vivo skull experiments tested for the presence of skull vibrations during TUS. Results We found that participants can hear sound during TUS and can distinguish between stimulation and non-stimulation trials. This was corroborated by EEG recordings indicating auditory activation associated with TUS. Delivering an audio waveform to participants through earphones while TUS was applied reduced detection rates to chance level and abolished the TUS-induced auditory EEG signal. Ex vivo skull experiments demonstrated that sound is conducted through the skull at the pulse repetition frequency of the ultrasound. Conclusion Future studies using TUS in humans need to take this auditory confound into account and mask stimulation appropriately. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation elicits auditory signals in humans. Healthy human participants can distinguish stimulation from non-stimulation trials. Auditory masking reduces detection rates. Skull vibrations are present during transcranial ultrasound stimulation. The auditory signal is likely due to bone conduction at the pulse repetition frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Braun
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Christopher R Butler
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK; Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK; Departamento de Neurología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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135
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Pouget P, Frey S, Ahnine H, Attali D, Claron J, Constans C, Aubry JF, Arcizet F. Neuronavigated Repetitive Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation Induces Long-Lasting and Reversible Effects on Oculomotor Performance in Non-human Primates. Front Physiol 2020; 11:1042. [PMID: 32973560 PMCID: PMC7466663 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.01042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the late 2010s, Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) has been used experimentally to carryout safe, non-invasive stimulation of the brain with better spatial resolution than Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This innovative stimulation method has emerged as a novel and valuable device for studying brain function in humans and animals. In particular, single pulses of TUS directed to oculomotor regions have been shown to modulate visuomotor behavior of non-human primates during 100 ms ultrasound pulses. In the present study, a sustained effect was induced by applying 20-s trains of neuronavigated repetitive Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (rTUS) to oculomotor regions of the frontal cortex in three non-human primates performing an antisaccade task. With the help of MRI imaging and a frame-less stereotactic neuronavigation system (SNS), we were able to demonstrate that neuronavigated TUS (outside of the MRI scanner) is an efficient tool to carry out neuromodulation procedures in non-human primates. We found that, following neuronavigated rTUS, saccades were significantly modified, resulting in shorter latencies compared to no-rTUS trials. This behavioral modulation was maintained for up to 20 min. Oculomotor behavior returned to baseline after 18-31 min and could not be significantly distinguished from the no-rTUS condition. This study is the first to show that neuronavigated rTUS can have a persistent effect on monkey behavior with a quantified return-time to baseline. The specificity of the effects could not be explained by auditory confounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Pouget
- Institute of Brain and Spinal Cord, UMRS 975 Inserm, CNRS 7225, UMPC, Paris, France
| | | | - Harry Ahnine
- Institute of Brain and Spinal Cord, UMRS 975 Inserm, CNRS 7225, UMPC, Paris, France
| | - David Attali
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research University, Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), Inserm U1266, Team Pathophysiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Paris, France.,GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Site Sainte-Anne, Service Hospitalo-Universitaire, Paris, France
| | - Julien Claron
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research University, Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris, France
| | - Charlotte Constans
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research University, Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Francois Aubry
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research University, Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris, France
| | - Fabrice Arcizet
- Institut de la Vision CNRS, Inserm, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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136
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Wang S, Meng W, Ren Z, Li B, Zhu T, Chen H, Wang Z, He B, Zhao D, Jiang H. Ultrasonic Neuromodulation and Sonogenetics: A New Era for Neural Modulation. Front Physiol 2020; 11:787. [PMID: 32765294 PMCID: PMC7378787 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive ultrasonic neural modulation (UNM), a non-invasive technique with enhanced spatial focus compared to conventional electrical neural modulation, has attracted much attention in recent decades and might become the mainstream regimen for neurological disorders. However, as ultrasonic bioeffects and its adjustments are still unclear, it remains difficult to be extensively applied for therapeutic purpose, much less in the setting of human skull. Hence to comprehensively understand the way ultrasound exerts bioeffects, we explored UNM from a basic perspective by illustrating the parameter settings and the underlying mechanisms. In addition, although the spatial resolution and precision of UNM are considerable, UNM is relatively non-specific to tissue or cell type and shows very low specificity at the molecular level. Surprisingly, Ibsen et al. (2015) first proposed the concept of sonogenetics, which combined UNM and mechanosensitive (MS) channel protein. This emerging approach is a valuable improvement, as it may markedly increase the precision and spatial resolution of UNM. It seemed to be an inspiring tool with high accuracy and specificity, however, little information about sonogenetics is currently available. Thus, in order to provide an overview of sonogenetics and prompt the researches on UNM, we summarized the potential mechanisms from a molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songyun Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weilun Meng
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Medical Department, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhongyuan Ren
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Medical Department, Soochow University Medical College, Suzhou, China
| | - Binxun Li
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tongjian Zhu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo He
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dongdong Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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137
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Kinfe T, Stadlbauer A, Winder K, Hurlemann R, Buchfelder M. Incisionless MR-guided focused ultrasound: technical considerations and current therapeutic approaches in psychiatric disorders. Expert Rev Neurother 2020; 20:687-696. [PMID: 32511043 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2020.1779590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION MR-guided focused ultrasound operating at higher intensities have been reported to effectively and precisely ablate deeper brain structures like the basal ganglia or the thalamic nuclei for the treatment of refractory movement disorders, neuropathic pain and most recently neuropsychiatric disorders, while low-intensity focused ultrasound represents an approach promoting mechanical blood-brain-barrier opening and neuromodulation. This narrative review summarizes the technical development and the therapeutic potential of incisionless MRgFUS in order to treat neuropsychiatric disorders. AREAS COVERED A narrative review of clinical trials assessing the safety and efficacy of MRgFUS. A literature review was performed using the following search terms: MR-guided focused ultrasound, psychiatric disorders, noninvasive and invasive brain modulation/stimulation techniques. EXPERT OPINION MRgFUS ablation is under clinical investigation (unblinded study design) for obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs) [capsulotomy; ALIC] and depression/anxiety disorders [capsulotomy] and has demonstrated an improvement in OCD and depression, although of preliminary character. Low-intensity ultrasound applications have been explored in Alzheimer´s disease (phase 1 study) and healthy subjects. Currently, limited evidence hinders comparison and selection between MRgFUS and noninvasive/invasive brain modulation therapies. However, comparative, sham-controlled trials are needed to reexamine the preliminary findings for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kinfe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nürnberg , Germany.,Division of Functional Neurosurgery and Stereotaxy, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nürnberg , Germany.,Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Stadlbauer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nürnberg , Germany.,Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Klemens Winder
- Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rene Hurlemann
- Department of Psychiatry, University Oldenburg , Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Michael Buchfelder
- Department of Neurosurgery, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nürnberg , Germany.,Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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138
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Kamimura HAS, Conti A, Toschi N, Konofagou EE. Ultrasound neuromodulation: mechanisms and the potential of multimodal stimulation for neuronal function assessment. FRONTIERS IN PHYSICS 2020; 8:150. [PMID: 32509757 PMCID: PMC7274478 DOI: 10.3389/fphy.2020.00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (FUS) neuromodulation has shown that mechanical waves can interact with cell membranes and mechanosensitive ion channels, causing changes in neuronal activity. However, the thorough understanding of the mechanisms involved in these interactions are hindered by different experimental conditions for a variety of animal scales and models. While the lack of complete understanding of FUS neuromodulation mechanisms does not impede benefiting from the current known advantages and potential of this technique, a precise characterization of its mechanisms of action and their dependence on experimental setup (e.g., tuning acoustic parameters and characterizing safety ranges) has the potential to exponentially improve its efficacy as well as spatial and functional selectivity. This could potentially reach the cell type specificity typical of other, more invasive techniques e.g., opto- and chemogenetics or at least orientation-specific selectivity afforded by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Here, the mechanisms and their potential overlap are reviewed along with discussions on the potential insights into mechanisms that magnetic resonance imaging sequences along with a multimodal stimulation approach involving electrical, magnetic, chemical, light, and mechanical stimuli can provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermes A. S. Kamimura
- Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New Yor, NY, USA
| | - Allegra Conti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Toschi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Elisa E. Konofagou
- Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New Yor, NY, USA
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139
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Brinker ST, Preiswerk F, White PJ, Mariano TY, McDannold NJ, Bubrick EJ. Focused Ultrasound Platform for Investigating Therapeutic Neuromodulation Across the Human Hippocampus. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:1270-1274. [PMID: 32088061 PMCID: PMC7239323 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Pulsed low-intensity focused ultrasound (PLIFUS) has shown promise in inducing neuromodulation in several animal and human studies. Therefore, it is of clinical interest to develop experimental platforms to test repetitive PLIFUS as a therapeutic modality in humans with neurologic disorders. In the study described here, our aim was to develop a laboratory-built experimental device platform intended to deliver repetitive PLIFUS across the hippocampus in seizure onset zones of patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. The system uses neuronavigation targeting over multiple therapeutic sessions. PLIFUS (548 kHz) was emitted across multiple hippocampal targets in a human subject with temporal lobe epilepsy using a mechanically steered piezoelectric transducer. Stimulation was delivered up to 2.25 W/cm2 spatial peak temporal average intensity (free-field equivalent), with 36%-50% duty cycle, 500-ms sonications and 7-s inter-stimulation intervals lasting 140 s per target and repeated for multiple sessions. A first-in-human PLIFUS course of treatment was successfully delivered using the device platform with no adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer T Brinker
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Frank Preiswerk
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Phillip J White
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Physics, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Timothy Y Mariano
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Butler Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nathan J McDannold
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Ellen J Bubrick
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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140
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Kubanek J, Brown J, Ye P, Pauly KB, Moore T, Newsome W. Remote, brain region-specific control of choice behavior with ultrasonic waves. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz4193. [PMID: 32671207 PMCID: PMC7314556 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz4193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The ability to modulate neural activity in specific brain circuits remotely and systematically could revolutionize studies of brain function and treatments of brain disorders. Sound waves of high frequencies (ultrasound) have shown promise in this respect, combining the ability to modulate neuronal activity with sharp spatial focus. Here, we show that the approach can have potent effects on choice behavior. Brief, low-intensity ultrasound pulses delivered noninvasively into specific brain regions of macaque monkeys influenced their decisions regarding which target to choose. The effects were substantial, leading to around a 2:1 bias in choices compared to the default balanced proportion. The effect presence and polarity was controlled by the specific target region. These results represent a critical step towards the ability to influence choice behavior noninvasively, enabling systematic investigations and treatments of brain circuits underlying disorders of choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Kubanek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 36 S Wasatch Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Julian Brown
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, 318 Campus Dr, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Patrick Ye
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 1201 Welch Rd, Stanford, CA 94034, USA
| | - Kim Butts Pauly
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 1201 Welch Rd, Stanford, CA 94034, USA
| | - Tirin Moore
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, 318 Campus Dr, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - William Newsome
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, 318 Campus Dr, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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141
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Lin Z, Meng L, Zou J, Zhou W, Huang X, Xue S, Bian T, Yuan T, Niu L, Guo Y, Zheng H. Non-invasive ultrasonic neuromodulation of neuronal excitability for treatment of epilepsy. Theranostics 2020; 10:5514-5526. [PMID: 32373225 PMCID: PMC7196311 DOI: 10.7150/thno.40520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive low-intensity pulsed ultrasound has been employed for direct neuro-modulation. However, its range and effectiveness for different neurological disorders have not been fully elucidated. Methods: We used multiple approaches of electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and behavioral tests as potential epilepsy treatments in non-human primate model of epilepsy and human epileptic tissues. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound with a frequency of 750 kHz and acoustic pressure of 0.35 MPa (the spatial peak pulse average intensity, ISPPA = 2.02 W/cm2) were delivered to the epileptogenic foci in five penicillin-induced epileptic monkey models. An ultrasound neuro-modulation system with a frequency of 28 MHz and acoustic pressure of 0.13 MPa (ISPPA = 465 mW/cm2) compatible with patch-clamp systems was used to stimulate the brain slices prepared from fifteen patients with epilepsy. Results: After 30 min of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment, total seizure count for 16 hours (sham group: 107.7 ± 1.2, ultrasound group: 66.0 ± 7.9, P < 0.01) and seizure frequency per hour (sham group: 15.6 ± 1.2, ultrasound group: 9.6 ± 1.5, P < 0.05) were significantly reduced. The therapeutic efficacy and underlying potential mechanism of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment were studied in biopsy specimens from epileptic patients in vitro. Ultrasound stimulation could inhibit epileptiform activities with an efficiency exceeding 65%, potentially due to adjusting the balance of excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) synaptic inputs by the increased activity of local inhibitory neurons. Conclusion: Herein, we demonstrated for the first time that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound improves electrophysiological activities and behavioral outcomes in a non-human primate model of epilepsy and suppresses epileptiform activities of neurons from human epileptic slices. The study provides evidence for the potential clinical use of non-invasive low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation for epilepsy treatment.
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142
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Legon W, Adams S, Bansal P, Patel PD, Hobbs L, Ai L, Mueller JK, Meekins G, Gillick BT. A retrospective qualitative report of symptoms and safety from transcranial focused ultrasound for neuromodulation in humans. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5573. [PMID: 32221350 PMCID: PMC7101402 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62265-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Low intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (LIFU) is a promising method of non-invasive neuromodulation that uses mechanical energy to affect neuronal excitability. LIFU confers high spatial resolution and adjustable focal lengths for precise neuromodulation of discrete regions in the human brain. Before the full potential of low intensity ultrasound for research and clinical application can be investigated, data on the safety of this technique is indicated. Here, we provide an evaluation of the safety of LIFU for human neuromodulation through participant report and neurological assessment with a comparison of symptomology to other forms of non-invasive brain stimulation. Participants (N = 120) that were enrolled in one of seven human ultrasound neuromodulation studies in one laboratory at the University of Minnesota (2015–2017) were queried to complete a follow-up Participant Report of Symptoms questionnaire assessing their self-reported experience and tolerance to participation in LIFU research (Isppa 11.56–17.12 W/cm2) and the perceived relation of symptoms to LIFU. A total of 64/120 participant (53%) responded to follow-up requests to complete the Participant Report of Symptoms questionnaire. None of the participants experienced serious adverse effects. From the post-hoc assessment of safety using the questionnaire, 7/64 reported mild to moderate symptoms, that were perceived as ‘possibly’ or ‘probably’ related to participation in LIFU experiments. These reports included neck pain, problems with attention, muscle twitches and anxiety. The most common unrelated symptoms included sleepiness and neck pain. There were initial transient reports of mild neck pain, scalp tingling and headache that were extinguished upon follow-up. No new symptoms were reported upon follow up out to 1 month. The profile and incidence of symptoms looks to be similar to other forms of non-invasive brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wynn Legon
- Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, MN, Minneapolis, USA. .,Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, VA, Charlottesville, USA.
| | - Sarah Adams
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, VA, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Priya Bansal
- Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, MN, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Parantap D Patel
- School of Medicine, University of Virginia, VA, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Landon Hobbs
- School of Medicine, University of Virginia, VA, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Leo Ai
- Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, MN, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Jerel K Mueller
- Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, MN, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Gregg Meekins
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, MN, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Bernadette T Gillick
- Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, MN, Minneapolis, USA
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143
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Sanguinetti JL, Hameroff S, Smith EE, Sato T, Daft CMW, Tyler WJ, Allen JJB. Transcranial Focused Ultrasound to the Right Prefrontal Cortex Improves Mood and Alters Functional Connectivity in Humans. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:52. [PMID: 32184714 PMCID: PMC7058635 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is an emerging method for non-invasive neuromodulation akin to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). tFUS offers several advantages over electromagnetic methods including high spatial resolution and the ability to reach deep brain targets. Here we describe two experiments assessing whether tFUS could modulate mood in healthy human volunteers by targeting the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG), an area implicated in mood and emotional regulation. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, participants received 30 s of 500 kHz tFUS or a placebo control. Visual Analog Mood Scales (VAMS) assessed mood four times within an hour (baseline and three times after tFUS). Participants who received tFUS reported an overall increase in Global Affect (GA), an aggregate score from the VAMS scale, indicating a positive shift in mood. Experiment 2 examined resting-state functional (FC) connectivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) following 2 min of 500 kHz tFUS at the rIFG. As in Experiment 1, tFUS enhanced self-reported mood states and also decreased FC in resting state networks related to emotion and mood regulation. These results suggest that tFUS can be used to modulate mood and emotional regulation networks in the prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L Sanguinetti
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Stuart Hameroff
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Ezra E Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tomokazu Sato
- The Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Chris M W Daft
- River Sonic Solutions LLC, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - William J Tyler
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - John J B Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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144
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Li D, Cui Z, Xu S, Xu T, Wu S, Bouakaz A, Wan M, Zhang S. Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Stimulation Treatment Decreases Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2020; 67:3048-3056. [PMID: 32086192 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2020.2975279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We applied low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) stimulation of the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) model to demonstrate the feasibility of LIFU stimulation to decrease blood pressure (BP). METHODS The rats were treated with LIFU stimulation for 20 min every day for one week. The change of BP and heart rate (HR) were recorded to evaluate the antihypertensive effect. Then the plasma levels of epinephrine (EPI), norepinephrine (NE), and angiotensin II (ANGII) were measured to evaluate the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The c-fos immunofluorescence assay was performed to investigate the antihypertensive nerve pathway. Moreover, the biological safety of ultrasound sonication was examined. RESULTS The LIFU stimulation induced a significant reduction of BP in 8 SHRs. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was reduced from 170 ± 4 mmHg to 128 ± 4.5 mmHg after a one-week treatment, p < 0.01. The activity of SNS and RAS were also inhibited. The results of the c-fos immunofluorescence assay showed that US stimulation of the vlPAG significantly enhanced the neuronal activity both in vlPAG and caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) regions. And the US stimulation used in this study did not cause significant tissue damage, hemorrhage and cell apoptosis in the sonication region. CONCLUSION The results support that LIFU stimulation of the vlPAG could relieve hypertension in SHRs. SIGNIFICANCE The LIFU stimulation of the vlPAG could potentially be a new alternative non-invasive device therapy for hypertension.
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145
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Gaur P, Casey KM, Kubanek J, Li N, Mohammadjavadi M, Saenz Y, Glover GH, Bouley DM, Pauly KB. Histologic safety of transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation and magnetic resonance acoustic radiation force imaging in rhesus macaques and sheep. Brain Stimul 2020; 13:804-814. [PMID: 32289711 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2020.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuromodulation by transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) offers the potential to non-invasively treat specific brain regions, with treatment location verified by magnetic resonance acoustic radiation force imaging (MR-ARFI). OBJECTIVE To investigate the safety of these methods prior to widespread clinical use, we report histologic findings in two large animal models following FUS neuromodulation and MR-ARFI. METHODS Two rhesus macaques and thirteen Dorset sheep were studied. FUS neuromodulation was targeted to the primary visual cortex in rhesus macaques and to subcortical locations, verified by MR-ARFI, in eleven sheep. Both rhesus macaques and five sheep received a single FUS session, whereas six sheep received repeated sessions three to six days apart. The remaining two control sheep did not receive ultrasound but otherwise underwent the same anesthetic and MRI procedures as the eleven experimental sheep. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of brain tissue (harvested zero to eleven days following FUS) were evaluated for tissue damage at FUS and control locations as well as tissue within the path of the FUS beam. TUNEL staining was used to evaluate for the presence of apoptosis in sheep receiving high dose FUS. RESULTS No FUS-related pre-mortem histologic findings were observed in the rhesus macaques or in any of the examined sheep. Extravascular red blood cells (RBCs) were present within the meninges of all sheep, regardless of treatment group. Similarly, small aggregates of perivascular RBCs were rarely noted in non-target regions of neural parenchyma of FUS-treated (8/11) and untreated (2/2) sheep. However, no concurrent histologic abnormalities were observed, consistent with RBC extravasation occurring as post-mortem artifact following brain extraction. Sheep within the high dose FUS group were TUNEL-negative at the targeted site of FUS. CONCLUSIONS The absence of FUS-related histologic findings suggests that the neuromodulation and MR-ARFI protocols evaluated do not cause tissue damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Gaur
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Kerriann M Casey
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jan Kubanek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Ningrui Li
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Yamil Saenz
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gary H Glover
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Donna M Bouley
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kim Butts Pauly
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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146
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Wu CY, Fan CH, Chiu NH, Ho YJ, Lin YC, Yeh CK. Targeted delivery of engineered auditory sensing protein for ultrasound neuromodulation in the brain. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:3546-3561. [PMID: 32206107 PMCID: PMC7069068 DOI: 10.7150/thno.39786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonogenetics is a promising approach for in vivo neuromodulation using ultrasound (US) to non-invasively stimulate cells in deep tissue. However, sonogenetics requires accurate transduction of US-responsive proteins into target cells. Here, we introduce a non-invasive and non-viral approach for intracerebral gene delivery. This approach utilizes temporary ultrasonic disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to transfect neurons at specific sites in the brain via DNA that encodes engineered US-responsive protein (murine Prestin (N7T, N308S))-loaded microbubbles (pPrestin-MBs). Prestin is a transmembrane protein that exists in the mammalian auditory system and functions as an electromechanical transducer. We further improved the US sensitivity of Prestin by introducing specific amino acid substitutions that frequently occur in sonar species into the mouse Prestin protein. We demonstrated this concept in mice using US with pPrestin-MBs to non-invasively modify and activate neurons within the brain for spatiotemporal neuromodulation. Method: MBs composed of cationic phospholipid and C3F8 loaded with mouse Prestin plasmid (pPrestin) via electrostatic interactions. The mean concentration and size of the pPrestin-MBs were (16.0 ± 0.2) × 109 MBs/mL and 1.1 ± 0.2 μm, respectively. SH-SY5Y neuron-like cells and C57BL mice were used in this study. We evaluated the gene transfection efficiency and BBB-opening region resulting from pPrestin-MBs with 1-MHz US (pressure = 0.1-0.5 MPa, cycle = 50-10000, pulse repetition frequency (PRF): 0.5-5 Hz, sonication time = 60 s) using green fluorescence protein (Venus) and Evans blue staining. Results: The maximum pPrestin expression with the highest cell viability occurred at a pressure of 0.5 MPa, cycle number of 5000, and PRF of 1 Hz. The cellular transfection rate with pPrestin-MBs and US was 20.2 ± 2.5%, which was 1.5-fold higher than that of commercial transfection agents (LT-1). In vivo data suggested that the most profound expression of pPrestin occurred at 2 days after performing pPrestin-MBs with US (0.5 MPa, 240 s sonication time). In addition, no server erythrocyte extravasations and apoptosis cells were observed at US-sonicated region. We further found that with 0.5-MHz US stimulation, cells with Prestin expression were 6-fold more likely to exhibit c-Fos staining than cells without Prestin expression. Conclusion: Successful activation of Prestin-expressing neurons suggests that this technology provides non-invasive and spatially precise selective modulation of one or multiple specific brain regions.
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147
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Beisteiner R, Matt E, Fan C, Baldysiak H, Schönfeld M, Philippi Novak T, Amini A, Aslan T, Reinecke R, Lehrner J, Weber A, Reime U, Goldenstedt C, Marlinghaus E, Hallett M, Lohse‐Busch H. Transcranial Pulse Stimulation with Ultrasound in Alzheimer's Disease-A New Navigated Focal Brain Therapy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:1902583. [PMID: 32042569 PMCID: PMC7001626 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201902583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound-based brain stimulation techniques may become a powerful new technique to modulate the human brain in a focal and targeted manner. However, for clinical brain stimulation no certified systems exist and the current techniques have to be further developed. Here, a clinical sonication technique is introduced, based on single ultrashort ultrasound pulses (transcranial pulse stimulation, TPS) which markedly differs from existing focused ultrasound techniques. In addition, a first clinical study using ultrasound brain stimulation and first observations of long term effects are presented. Comprehensive feasibility, safety, and efficacy data are provided. They consist of simulation data, laboratory measurements with rat and human skulls and brains, in vivo modulations of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) in healthy subjects (sham controlled) and clinical pilot data in 35 patients with Alzheimer's disease acquired in a multicenter setting (including neuropsychological scores and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)). Preclinical results show large safety margins and dose dependent neuromodulation. Patient investigations reveal high treatment tolerability and no major side effects. Neuropsychological scores improve significantly after TPS treatment and improvement lasts up to three months and correlates with an upregulation of the memory network (fMRI data). The results encourage broad neuroscientific application and translation of the method to clinical therapy and randomized sham-controlled clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Beisteiner
- Department of NeurologyLaboratory for Functional Brain Diagnostics and TherapyHigh Field MR CenterMedical University of ViennaSpitalgasse 23Vienna1090Austria
| | - Eva Matt
- Department of NeurologyLaboratory for Functional Brain Diagnostics and TherapyHigh Field MR CenterMedical University of ViennaSpitalgasse 23Vienna1090Austria
| | - Christina Fan
- Applied Research CenterStorz Medical AGLohstampfestrasse 8Tägerwilen8274Switzerland
| | - Heike Baldysiak
- RheintalklinikOutpatient Department Manual MedicineCenter for Movement DisordersThürachstraße 10Bad Krozingen79189Germany
| | - Marleen Schönfeld
- Department of NeurologyLaboratory for Functional Brain Diagnostics and TherapyHigh Field MR CenterMedical University of ViennaSpitalgasse 23Vienna1090Austria
| | - Tabea Philippi Novak
- Department of NeurologyLaboratory for Functional Brain Diagnostics and TherapyHigh Field MR CenterMedical University of ViennaSpitalgasse 23Vienna1090Austria
| | - Ahmad Amini
- Department of NeurologyLaboratory for Functional Brain Diagnostics and TherapyHigh Field MR CenterMedical University of ViennaSpitalgasse 23Vienna1090Austria
| | - Tuna Aslan
- Department of NeurologyLaboratory for Functional Brain Diagnostics and TherapyHigh Field MR CenterMedical University of ViennaSpitalgasse 23Vienna1090Austria
| | - Raphael Reinecke
- Department of NeurologyLaboratory for Functional Brain Diagnostics and TherapyHigh Field MR CenterMedical University of ViennaSpitalgasse 23Vienna1090Austria
| | - Johann Lehrner
- Department of NeurologyLaboratory for Functional Brain Diagnostics and TherapyHigh Field MR CenterMedical University of ViennaSpitalgasse 23Vienna1090Austria
| | - Alexandra Weber
- Department of NeurologyLaboratory for Functional Brain Diagnostics and TherapyHigh Field MR CenterMedical University of ViennaSpitalgasse 23Vienna1090Austria
| | - Ulrike Reime
- RheintalklinikOutpatient Department Manual MedicineCenter for Movement DisordersThürachstraße 10Bad Krozingen79189Germany
| | - Cédric Goldenstedt
- Applied Research CenterStorz Medical AGLohstampfestrasse 8Tägerwilen8274Switzerland
| | - Ernst Marlinghaus
- Applied Research CenterStorz Medical AGLohstampfestrasse 8Tägerwilen8274Switzerland
| | - Mark Hallett
- Human Motor Control SectionNINDSNIH10 Center DriveBethesdaMD20892‐1428USA
| | - Henning Lohse‐Busch
- RheintalklinikOutpatient Department Manual MedicineCenter for Movement DisordersThürachstraße 10Bad Krozingen79189Germany
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148
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Dedola F, Severino FPU, Meneghetti N, Lemaire T, Cafarelli A, Ricotti L, Menciassi A, Cutrone A, Mazzoni A, Micera S. Ultrasound Stimulations Induce Prolonged Depolarization and Fast Action Potentials in Leech Neurons. IEEE OPEN JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1:23-32. [PMID: 35402964 PMCID: PMC8979621 DOI: 10.1109/ojemb.2019.2963474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Ultrasound (US) stimulation carries the promise of a selective, reversible, and non-invasive modulation of neural activity without the need for genetic manipulation of neural structures. However, the mechanisms of US-induced generation of action potentials (APs) are still unclear. Methods: Here we address this issue by analyzing intracellularly recorded responses of leech nociceptive neurons to controlled delivery of US. Results: US induced a depolarization linearly accumulating in time and outlasting the duration of the stimulation. Spiking activity was reliably induced for an optimal US intensity range. Moreover, we found that APs induced by US differ in smaller amplitude and faster repolarization from those induced by electrical stimulation in the same cell but display the same repolarization rate. Conclusions: These results shed light on the mechanism by which spikes are induced by US and pave the way for designing more efficient US stimulation patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Dedola
- 1 The Biorobotics InstituteScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and AIScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
| | | | - Nicolo Meneghetti
- 1 The Biorobotics InstituteScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and AIScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
| | - Theo Lemaire
- 3 Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational NeuroEngineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Institute of BioengineeringSchool of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
| | - Andrea Cafarelli
- 1 The Biorobotics InstituteScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and AIScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
| | - Leonardo Ricotti
- 1 The Biorobotics InstituteScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and AIScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
| | - Arianna Menciassi
- 1 The Biorobotics InstituteScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and AIScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
| | - Annarita Cutrone
- 1 The Biorobotics InstituteScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and AIScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
| | - Alberto Mazzoni
- 1 The Biorobotics InstituteScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and AIScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
| | - Silvestro Micera
- 4 BioRobotics InstituteScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and AIScuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa 56025 Italy
- Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational NeuroEngineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Institute of BioengineeringSchool of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
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149
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Darrow DP, O'Brien P, Richner TJ, Netoff TI, Ebbini ES. Reversible neuroinhibition by focused ultrasound is mediated by a thermal mechanism. Brain Stimul 2019; 12:1439-1447. [PMID: 31377096 PMCID: PMC6851480 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) at low intensities has been reported to directly evoke responses and reversibly inhibit function in the central nervous system. While some doubt has been cast on the ability of ultrasound to directly evoke neuronal responses, spatially-restricted transcranial ultrasound has demonstrated consistent, inhibitory effects, but the underlying mechanism of reversible suppression in the central nervous system is not well understood. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS In this study, we sought to characterize the effect of transcranial, low-intensity, focused ultrasound on the thalamus during somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) and investigate the mechanism by modulating the parameters of ultrasound. METHODS TFUS was applied to the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus of a rodent while electrically stimulating the tibial nerve to induce an SSEP. Thermal changes were also induced through an optical fiber that was image-guided to the same target. RESULTS Focused ultrasound reversibly suppressed SSEPs in a spatially and intensity-dependent manner while remaining independent of duty cycle, peak pressure, or modulation frequency. Suppression was highly correlated and temporally consistent with in vivo temperature changes while producing no pathological changes on histology. Furthermore, stereotactically-guided delivery of thermal energy through an optical fiber produced similar thermal effects and suppression. CONCLUSION We confirm that tFUS predominantly causes neuroinhibition and conclude that the most primary biophysical mechanism is the thermal effect of focused ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Darrow
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, MMC 96, Room D-429, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Parker O'Brien
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, 7-174 Keller Hall, 200 Union Street Se. Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Thomas J Richner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 7-105 Nils Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Theoden I Netoff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 7-105 Nils Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Emad S Ebbini
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, 7-174 Keller Hall, 200 Union Street Se. Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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150
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Yoon K, Lee W, Lee JE, Xu L, Croce P, Foley L, Yoo SS. Effects of sonication parameters on transcranial focused ultrasound brain stimulation in an ovine model. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224311. [PMID: 31648261 PMCID: PMC6812789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) has significant potential as a non-invasive brain stimulation modality and novel technique for functional brain mapping, particularly with its advantage of greater spatial selectivity and depth penetration compared to existing non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. As previous studies, primarily carried out in small animals, have demonstrated that sonication parameters affect the stimulation efficiency, further investigation in large animals is necessary to translate this technique into clinical practice. In the present study, we examined the effects of sonication parameters on the transient modification of excitability of cortical and thalamic areas in an ovine model. Guided by anatomical and functional neuroimaging data specific to each animal, 250 kHz FUS was transcranially applied to the primary sensorimotor area associated with the right hind limb and its thalamic projection in sheep (n = 10) across multiple sessions using various combinations of sonication parameters. The degree of effect from FUS was assessed through electrophysiological responses, through analysis of electromyogram and electroencephalographic somatosensory evoked potentials for evaluation of excitatory and suppressive effects, respectively. We found that the modulatory effects were transient and reversible, with specific sonication parameters outperforming others in modulating regional brain activity. Magnetic resonance imaging and histological analysis conducted at different time points after the final sonication session, as well as behavioral observations, showed that repeated exposure to FUS did not damage the underlying brain tissue. Our results suggest that FUS-mediated, non-invasive, region-specific bimodal neuromodulation can be safely achieved in an ovine model, indicating its potential for translation into human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyungho Yoon
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Wonhye Lee
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ji Eun Lee
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Linda Xu
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Phillip Croce
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lori Foley
- Translational Discovery Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Seung-Schik Yoo
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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