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Trambaiolli L, Maffei C, Dann E, Biazoli C, Bezgin G, Yendiki A, Haber S. Translation of monosynaptic circuits underlying amygdala fMRI neurofeedback training. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:1839-1850. [PMID: 39103495 PMCID: PMC11473645 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01944-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
fMRI neurofeedback using autobiographical memory recall to upregulate the amygdala is associated with resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) changes between the amygdala and the salience and default mode networks (SN and DMN, respectively). We hypothesize the existence of anatomical circuits underlying these rsFC changes. Using a cross-species brain parcellation, we identified in non-human primates locations homologous to the regions of interest (ROIs) from studies showing pre-to-post-neurofeedback changes in rsFC with the left amygdala. We injected bidirectional tracers in the basolateral, lateral, and central amygdala nuclei of adult macaques and used bright- and dark-field microscopy to identify cells and axon terminals in each ROI (SN: anterior cingulate, ventrolateral, and insular cortices; DMN: temporal pole, middle frontal gyrus, angular gyrus, precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, hippocampus, and thalamus). We also performed additional injections in specific ROIs to validate the results following amygdala injections and delineate potential disynaptic pathways. Finally, we used high-resolution diffusion MRI data from four post-mortem macaque brains and one in vivo human brain to translate our findings to the neuroimaging domain. Different amygdala nuclei had significant monosynaptic connections with all the SN and DMN ipsilateral ROIs. Amygdala connections with the DMN contralateral ROIs are disynaptic through the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. Diffusion MRI in both species benefitted from using the ground-truth tracer data to validate its findings, as we identified false-negative ipsilateral and false-positive contralateral connectivity results. This study provides the foundation for future causal investigations of amygdala neurofeedback modulation of the SN and DMN through these anatomic connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Trambaiolli
- McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
| | - Chiara Maffei
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Evan Dann
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Claudinei Biazoli
- Center for Mathematics Computation and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, Brazil
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Gleb Bezgin
- Neuroinformatics for Personalized Medicine lab, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Anastasia Yendiki
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Suzanne Haber
- McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
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Bawiec CR, Hollender PJ, Ornellas SB, Schachtner JN, Dahill-Fuchel JF, Konecky SD, Allen JJB. A Wearable, Steerable, Transcranial Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound System. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2024. [PMID: 39449176 DOI: 10.1002/jum.16600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Transcranial low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) offers unique opportunities for precisely neuromodulating small and/or deep targets within the human brain, which may be useful for treating psychiatric and neurological disorders. This article presents a novel ultrasound system that delivers focused ultrasound through the forehead to anterior brain targets and evaluates its safety and usability in a volunteer study. METHODS The ultrasound system and workflow are described, including neuronavigation, LIFU planning, and ultrasound delivery components. Its capabilities are analyzed through simulations and experiments in water to establish its safe steering range. A cohort of 20 healthy volunteers received a LIFU protocol aimed at the anterior medial prefrontal cortex (amPFC), using imaging and questionnaires to screen for adverse effects. Additional development after the study also analyzes the effect of the skull and sinus cavities on delivered ultrasound energy. RESULTS Simulations and hydrophone readings agreed with <5% error, and the safe steering range was found to encompass a 1.8 cm × 2.5 cm × 2 cm volume centered at a depth 5 cm from the surface of the skin. There were no adverse effects evident on qualitative assessments, nor any signs of damage in susceptibility-weighted imaging scans. All participants tolerated the treatment well. The interface effectively enabled the users to complete the workflow with all participants. In particular, the amPFC of every participant was within the steering limits of the system. A post hoc analysis showed that "virtual fitting" could aid in steering the beams around subjects' sinuses. CONCLUSIONS The presented system safely delivered LIFU through the forehead while targeting the amPFC in all volunteers, and was well-tolerated. With the capabilities validated here and positive results of the study, this technology appears well-suited to explore LIFU's efficacy in clinical neuromodulation contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John J B Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Nandi T, Kop BR, Pauly KB, Stagg CJ, Verhagen L. The relationship between parameters and effects in transcranial ultrasonic stimulation. Brain Stimul 2024:S1935-861X(24)00175-X. [PMID: 39447740 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.10.008] [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: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 09/27/2024] [Accepted: 10/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial ultrasonic stimulation (TUS) is rapidly gaining traction for non-invasive human neuromodulation, with a pressing need to establish protocols that maximise neuromodulatory efficacy. In this review, we aggregate and examine empirical evidence for the relationship between tunable TUS parameters and in vitro and in vivo outcomes. Based on this multiscale approach, TUS researchers can make better informed decisions about optimal parameter settings. Importantly, we also discuss the challenges involved in extrapolating results from prior empirical work to future interventions, including the translation of protocols between models and the complex interaction between TUS protocols and the brain. A synthesis of the empirical evidence suggests that larger effects will be observed at lower frequencies within the sub-MHz range, higher intensities and pressures than commonly administered thus far, and longer pulses and pulse train durations. Nevertheless, we emphasise the need for cautious interpretation of empirical data from different experimental paradigms when basing protocols on prior work as we advance towards refined TUS parameters for human neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tulika Nandi
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Benjamin R Kop
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Kim Butts Pauly
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Charlotte J Stagg
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, FMRIB Building, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK; Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TH, UK.
| | - Lennart Verhagen
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Lemaire T, Yuan Y, Gellman C, LeMessurier AM, Haiken Dray SR, Little JP, Froemke RC, Shoham S. Microscopic deconstruction of cortical circuit stimulation by transcranial ultrasound. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.10.10.617091. [PMID: 39415988 PMCID: PMC11483041 DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.10.617091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) can noninvasively and reversibly perturb neuronal activity, but the mechanisms by which ultrasound engages brain circuits to induce functional effects remain unclear. To elucidate these interactions, we applied TUS to the cortex of awake mice and concurrently monitored local neural activity at the acoustic focus with two-photon calcium imaging. We show that TUS evokes highly focal responses in three canonical neuronal populations, with cell-type-specific dose dependencies. Through independent parametric variations, we demonstrate that evoked responses collectively scale with the time-average intensity of the stimulus. Finally, using computational unmixing we propose a physiologically realistic cortical circuit model that predicts TUS-evoked responses as a result of both direct effects and local network interactions. Our results provide a first direct evidence of TUS's focal effects on cortical activity and shed light on the complex circuit mechanisms underlying these effects, paving the way for TUS's deployment in clinical settings.
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Jang H, Fotiadis P, Mashour GA, Hudetz AG, Huang Z. Thalamic Roles in Conscious Perception Revealed by Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.10.07.617034. [PMID: 39416133 PMCID: PMC11483030 DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.07.617034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
The neural basis of conscious perception remains incompletely understood. While cortical mechanisms of conscious content have been extensively investigated, the role of subcortical structures, including the thalamus, remains less explored. We aim to elucidate the causal contributions of different thalamic regions to conscious perception using transcranial low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) neuromodulation. We hypothesize that modulating different thalamic regions would result in distinct perceptual outcomes. We apply LIFU in human volunteers to investigate region-specific and sonication parameter-dependent effects. We target anterior (transmodal-dominant) and posterior (unimodal-dominant) thalamic regions, further divided into ventral and dorsal regions, while participants perform a near-threshold visual perception task. Task performance is evaluated using Signal Detection Theory metrics. We find that the high duty cycle stimulation of the ventral anterior thalamus enhanced object recognition sensitivity. We also observe a general (i.e., region-independent) effect of LIFU on decision bias (i.e., a tendency toward a particular response) and object categorization accuracy. Specifically, high duty cycle stimulation decreases categorization accuracy, whereas low duty cycle shifts decision bias towards a more conservative stance. In conclusion, our results provide causal insight into the functional organization of the thalamus in shaping human visual experience and highlight the unique role of the transmodal-dominant ventral anterior thalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunwoo Jang
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Panagiotis Fotiadis
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - George A. Mashour
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Anthony G. Hudetz
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Zirui Huang
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Psychedelic Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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Murphy KR, Farrell JS, Bendig J, Mitra A, Luff C, Stelzer IA, Yamaguchi H, Angelakos CC, Choi M, Bian W, DiIanni T, Pujol EM, Matosevich N, Airan R, Gaudillière B, Konofagou EE, Butts-Pauly K, Soltesz I, de Lecea L. Optimized ultrasound neuromodulation for non-invasive control of behavior and physiology. Neuron 2024; 112:3252-3266.e5. [PMID: 39079529 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound can non-invasively modulate neural activity, but whether effective stimulation parameters generalize across brain regions and cell types remains unknown. We used focused ultrasound coupled with fiber photometry to identify optimal neuromodulation parameters for four different arousal centers of the brain in an effort to yield overt changes in behavior. Applying coordinate descent, we found that optimal parameters for excitation or inhibition are highly distinct, the effects of which are generally conserved across brain regions and cell types. Optimized stimulations induced clear, target-specific behavioral effects, whereas non-optimized protocols of equivalent energy resulted in substantially less or no change in behavior. These outcomes were independent of auditory confounds and, contrary to expectation, accompanied by a cyclooxygenase-dependent and prolonged reduction in local blood flow and temperature with brain-region-specific scaling. These findings demonstrate that carefully tuned and targeted ultrasound can exhibit powerful effects on complex behavior and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith R Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jordan S Farrell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonas Bendig
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anish Mitra
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Charlotte Luff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ina A Stelzer
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hiroshi Yamaguchi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | | | - Mihyun Choi
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Wenjie Bian
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tommaso DiIanni
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Esther Martinez Pujol
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Noa Matosevich
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Raag Airan
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Brice Gaudillière
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisa E Konofagou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kim Butts-Pauly
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ivan Soltesz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Luis de Lecea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Feng J, Li Z. Progress in Noninvasive Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation. Stroke 2024; 55:2547-2557. [PMID: 39145391 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.124.046679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Low-intensity focused ultrasound represents groundbreaking medical advancements, characterized by its noninvasive feature, safety, precision, and broad neuromodulatory capabilities. This technology operates through mechanisms, for example, acoustic radiation force, cavitation, and thermal effects. Notably, with the evolution of medical technology, ultrasound neuromodulation has been gradually applied in treating central nervous system diseases, especially stroke. Furthermore, burgeoning research areas such as sonogenetics and nanotechnology show promising potential. Despite the benefit of low-intensity focused ultrasound the precise biophysical mechanism of ultrasound neuromodulation still need further exploration. This review discusses the recent and ongoing developments of low-intensity focused ultrasound for neurological regulation, covering the underlying rationale to current utility and the challenges that impede its further development and broader adoption of this promising alternative to noninvasive therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinru Feng
- Division of Vascular Neurology, Department of Neurology (J.F., Z.L.), Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
| | - Zixiao Li
- Division of Vascular Neurology, Department of Neurology (J.F., Z.L.), Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases (Z.L.), Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China (Z.L.)
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8
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Wang M, Xie Z, Wang T, Dong S, Ma Z, Zhang X, Li X, Yuan Y. Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation improves memory behavior in an ADHD rat model by modulating cortical functional network connectivity. Neuroimage 2024; 299:120841. [PMID: 39244077 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2024] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Working memory in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is closely related to cortical functional network connectivity (CFNC), such as abnormal connections between the frontal, temporal, occipital cortices and with other brain regions. Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) has the advantages of non-invasiveness, high spatial resolution, and high penetration depth and can improve ADHD memory behavior. However, how it modulates CFNC in ADHD and the CFNC mechanism that improves working memory behavior in ADHD remain unclear. In this study, we observed working memory impairment in ADHD rats, establishing a corresponding relationship between changes in CFNCs and the behavioral state during the working memory task. Specifically, we noted abnormalities in the information transmission and processing capabilities of CFNC in ADHD rats while performing working memory tasks. These abnormalities manifested in the network integration ability of specific areas, as well as the information flow and functional differentiation of CFNC. Furthermore, our findings indicate that TUS effectively enhances the working memory ability of ADHD rats by modulating information transmission, processing, and integration capabilities, along with adjusting the information flow and functional differentiation of CFNC. Additionally, we explain the CFNC mechanism through which TUS improves working memory in ADHD. In summary, these findings suggest that CFNCs are important in working memory behaviors in ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengran Wang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Zhenyu Xie
- School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Teng Wang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Shuxun Dong
- School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Zhenfang Ma
- Department of Rehabilitation, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Xiangjian Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China.
| | - Yi Yuan
- School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China.
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Naftchi-Ardebili K, Menz MD, Salahshoor H, Popelka GR, Baccus SA, Butts Pauly K. Focal Volume, Acoustic Radiation Force, and Strain in Two-Transducer Regimes. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2024; 71:1199-1216. [PMID: 39240744 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2024.3456048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2024]
Abstract
Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) holds promise for noninvasive neural modulation in treating neurological disorders. Most clinically relevant targets are deep within the brain (near or at its geometric center), surrounded by other sensitive regions that need to be spared clinical intervention. However, in TUS, increasing frequency with the goal of improving spatial resolution reduces the effective penetration depth. We show that by using a pair of 1-MHz orthogonally arranged transducers, we improve the spatial resolution afforded by each of the transducers individually, by nearly 40 folds, achieving a subcubic millimeter target volume of [Formula: see text]. We show that orthogonally placed transducers generate highly localized standing waves with acoustic radiation force (ARF) arranged into periodic regions of compression and tension near the target. We further present an extended capability of the orthogonal setup, which is to impart selective pressures-either positive or negative, but not both-on the target. Finally, we share our preliminary findings that strain can arise from both particle motion (PM) and ARF with the former reaching its maximum value at the focus and the latter remaining null at the focus and reaching its maximum around the focus. As the field is investigating the mechanism of interaction in TUS by way of elucidating the mapping between ultrasound parameters and neural response, orthogonal transducers expand our toolbox by making it possible to conduct these investigations at much finer spatial resolutions, with localized and directed (compression versus tension) ARF and the capability of applying selective pressures at the target.
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Philip NS, Arulpragasam AR. Listening for the beat: Low intensity ultrasound modulates heartbeat evoked potentials. Clin Neurophysiol 2024:S1388-2457(24)00279-7. [PMID: 39379272 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Noah S Philip
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Amanda R Arulpragasam
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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11
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O'Reilly MA. Exploiting the mechanical effects of ultrasound for noninvasive therapy. Science 2024; 385:eadp7206. [PMID: 39265013 DOI: 10.1126/science.adp7206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound is a platform technology capable of eliciting a wide range of biological responses with high spatial precision deep within the body. Although focused ultrasound is already in clinical use for focal thermal ablation of tissue, there has been a recent growth in development and translation of ultrasound-mediated nonthermal therapies. These approaches exploit the physical forces of ultrasound to produce a range of biological responses dependent on exposure conditions. This review discusses recent advances in four application areas that have seen particular growth and have immense clinical potential: brain drug delivery, neuromodulation, focal tissue destruction, and endogenous immune system activation. Owing to the maturation of transcranial ultrasound technology, the brain is a major target organ; however, clinical indications outside the brain are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan A O'Reilly
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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12
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Savelon ECJ, Jordan HT, Stinear CM, Byblow WD. Noninvasive brain stimulation to improve motor outcomes after stroke. Curr Opin Neurol 2024:00019052-990000000-00192. [PMID: 39221935 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review highlights recent developments in noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques and applications for improving motor outcomes after stroke. Two promising areas of development relate to deep brain neuromodulation and the use of single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) within a prediction tool for predicting upper limb outcome for individual patients. RECENT FINDINGS Systematic reviews highlight the inconsistent effect sizes of interventional NIBS for motor outcome after stroke, as well as limited evidence supporting the interhemispheric competition model. To improve the therapeutic efficacy of NIBS, studies have leveraged metaplasticity and priming approaches. Transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) and low-intensity focused ultrasound stimulation (LIFUS) are emerging NIBS techniques with potential for modulating deeper brain structures, which may hold promise for stroke neurorehabilitation. Additionally, motor evoked potential (MEP) status obtained with single-pulse TMS is a prognostic biomarker that could be used to tailor NIBS for individual patients. SUMMARY Trials of interventional NIBS to improve stroke outcomes may be improved by applying NIBS in a more targeted manner. This could be achieved by taking advantage of NIBS techniques that can be targeted to deeper brain structures, using biomarkers of structural and functional reserve to stratify patients, and recruiting patients in more homogeneous time windows.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Harry T Jordan
- Department of Exercise Sciences
- Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Cathy M Stinear
- Centre for Brain Research
- Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Shen Y, Jethe JV, Reid AP, Hehir J, Amaral MM, Ren C, Hao S, Zhou C, Fisher JAN. Label free, capillary-scale blood flow mapping in vivo reveals that low intensity focused ultrasound evokes persistent dilation in cortical microvasculature. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.08.579513. [PMID: 38370686 PMCID: PMC10871316 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.08.579513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Non-invasive, low intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging neuromodulation technique that offers the potential for precision, personalized therapy. An increasing body of research has identified mechanosensitive ion channels that can be modulated by FUS and support acute electrical activity in neurons. However, neuromodulatory effects that persist from hours to days have also been reported. The brain's ability to provide targeted blood flow to electrically active regions involve a multitude of non-neuronal cell types and signaling pathways in the cerebral vasculature; an open question is whether persistent effects can be attributed, at least partly, to vascular mechanisms. Using a novel in vivo optical approach, we found that microvascular responses, unlike larger vessels which prior investigations have explored, exhibit persistent dilation following sonication without the use of microbubbles. This finding and approach offers a heretofore unseen aspect of the effects of FUS in vivo and indicate that concurrent changes in neurovascular function may partially underly persistent neuromodulatory effects.
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14
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Nau M, Schmid AC, Kaplan SM, Baker CI, Kravitz DJ. Centering cognitive neuroscience on task demands and generalization. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1656-1667. [PMID: 39075326 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01711-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive neuroscience seeks generalizable theories explaining the relationship between behavioral, physiological and mental states. In pursuit of such theories, we propose a theoretical and empirical framework that centers on understanding task demands and the mutual constraints they impose on behavior and neural activity. Task demands emerge from the interaction between an agent's sensory impressions, goals and behavior, which jointly shape the activity and structure of the nervous system on multiple spatiotemporal scales. Understanding this interaction requires multitask studies that vary more than one experimental component (for example, stimuli and instructions) combined with dense behavioral and neural sampling and explicit testing for generalization across tasks and data modalities. By centering task demands rather than mental processes that tasks are assumed to engage, this framework paves the way for the discovery of new generalizable concepts unconstrained by existing taxonomies, and moves cognitive neuroscience toward an action-oriented, dynamic and integrated view of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Nau
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Alexandra C Schmid
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Simon M Kaplan
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Chris I Baker
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Dwight J Kravitz
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
- Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences, US National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA, USA.
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15
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Zhang E, Shotbolt M, Chang CY, Scott-Vandeusen A, Chen S, Liang P, Radu D, Khizroev S. Controlling action potentials with magnetoelectric nanoparticles. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:1005-1017. [PMID: 39209064 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive or minutely invasive and wireless brain stimulation that can target any region of the brain is an open problem in engineering and neuroscience with serious implications for the treatment of numerous neurological diseases. Despite significant recent progress in advancing new methods of neuromodulation, none has successfully replicated the efficacy of traditional wired stimulation and improved on its downsides without introducing new complications. Due to the capability to convert magnetic fields into local electric fields, MagnetoElectric NanoParticle (MENP) neuromodulation is a recently proposed framework based on new materials that can locally sensitize neurons to specific, low-strength alternating current (AC) magnetic fields (50Hz 1.7 kOe field). However, the current research into this neuromodulation concept is at a very early stage, and the theoretically feasible game-changing advantages remain to be proven experimentally. To break this stalemate phase, this study leveraged understanding of the non-linear properties of MENPs and the nanoparticles' field interaction with the cellular microenvironment. Particularly, the applied magnetic field's strength and frequency were tailored to the M - H hysteresis loop of the nanoparticles. Furthermore, rectangular prisms instead of the more traditional "spherical" nanoparticle shapes were used to: (i) maximize the magnetoelectric effect and (ii) improve the nanoparticle-cell-membrane surface interface. Neuromodulation performance was evaluated in a series of exploratory in vitro experiments on 2446 rat hippocampus neurons. Linear mixed effect models were used to ensure the independence of samples by accounting for fixed adjacency effects in synchronized firing. Neural activity was measured over repeated 4-min segments, containing 90 s of baseline measurements, 90 s of stimulation measurements, and 60 s of post stimulation measurements. 87.5 % of stimulation attempts produced statistically significant (P < 0.05) changes in neural activity, with 58.3 % producing large changes (P < 0.01). In negative controls using either zero or 1.7 kOe-strength field without nanoparticles, no experiments produced significant changes in neural activity (P > 0.05 and P > 0.15 respectively). Furthermore, an exploratory analysis of a direct current (DC) magnetic field indicated that the DC field could be used with MENPs to inhibit neuron activity (P < 0.01). These experiments demonstrated the potential for magnetoelectric neuromodulation to offer a near one-to-one functionality match with conventional electrode stimulation without requiring surgical intervention or genetic modification to achieve success, instead relying on physical properties of these nanoparticles as "On/Off" control mechanisms. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: This in vitro neural cell culture study explores how to exploit the non-linear and anisotropic properties of magnetoelectric nanoparticles for wireless neuromodulation, the importance of magnetic field strength and frequency matching for optimization, and demonstrates, for the first time, that magnetoelectric neuromodulation can inhibit neural responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elric Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Max Shotbolt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Chang
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Shawnus Chen
- Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami, USA
| | | | - Daniela Radu
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Sakhrat Khizroev
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA; The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
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16
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Hoang-Dang B, Halavi SE, Rotstein NM, Spivak NM, Dang NH, Cvijanovic L, Hiller SH, Vallejo-Martelo M, Rosenberg BM, Swenson A, Becerra S, Sun M, Revett ME, Kronemyer D, Berlow R, Craske MG, Suthana N, Monti MM, Zbozinek TD, Bookheimer SY, Kuhn TP. Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Targeting the Amygdala May Increase Psychophysiological and Subjective Negative Emotional Reactivity in Healthy Older Adults. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100342. [PMID: 39092138 PMCID: PMC11293512 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The amygdala is highly implicated in an array of psychiatric disorders but is not accessible using currently available noninvasive neuromodulatory techniques. Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) is a neuromodulatory technique that has the capability of reaching subcortical regions noninvasively. Methods We studied healthy older adult participants (N = 21, ages 48-79 years) who received TFUS targeting the right amygdala and left entorhinal cortex (active control region) using a 2-visit within-participant crossover design. Before and after TFUS, behavioral measures were collected via the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and an emotional reactivity and regulation task utilizing neutral and negatively valenced images from the International Affective Picture System. Heart rate and self-reported emotional valence and arousal were measured during the emotional reactivity and regulation task to investigate subjective and physiological responses to the task. Results Significant increases in both self-reported arousal in response to negative images and heart rate during emotional reactivity and regulation task intertrial intervals were observed when TFUS targeted the amygdala; these changes were not evident when the entorhinal cortex was targeted. No significant changes were found for state anxiety, self-reported valence to the negative images, cardiac response to the negative images, or emotion regulation. Conclusions The results of this study provide preliminary evidence that a single session of TFUS targeting the amygdala may alter psychophysiological and subjective emotional responses, indicating some potential for future neuropsychiatric applications. However, more work on TFUS parameters and targeting optimization is necessary to determine how to elicit changes in a more clinically advantageous way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Hoang-Dang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sabrina E. Halavi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Natalie M. Rotstein
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Norman M. Spivak
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Nolan H. Dang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Luka Cvijanovic
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sonja H. Hiller
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Mauricio Vallejo-Martelo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Benjamin M. Rosenberg
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Andrew Swenson
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sergio Becerra
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael Sun
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Malina E. Revett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - David Kronemyer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Rustin Berlow
- American Brain Stimulation Clinic, Del Mar, California
| | - Michelle G. Craske
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Nanthia Suthana
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Martin M. Monti
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Tomislav D. Zbozinek
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Susan Y. Bookheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Taylor P. Kuhn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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17
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Fujimoto S, Fujimoto A, Elorette C, Choi KS, Mayberg H, Russ B, Rudebeck P. What can neuroimaging of neuromodulation reveal about the basis of circuit therapies for psychiatry? Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01976-2. [PMID: 39198580 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01976-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Neuromodulation is increasingly becoming a therapeutic option for treatment resistant psychiatric disorders. These non-invasive and invasive therapies are still being refined but are clinically effective and, in some cases, provide sustained symptom reduction. Neuromodulation relies on changing activity within a specific brain region or circuit, but the precise mechanisms of action of these therapies, is unclear. Here we review work in both humans and animals that has provided insight into how therapies such as deep brain and transcranial magnetic stimulation alter neural activity across the brain. We focus on studies that have combined neuromodulation with neuroimaging such as PET and MRI as these measures provide detailed information about the distributed networks that are modulated and thus insight into both the mechanisms of action of neuromodulation but also potentially the basis of psychiatric disorders. Further we highlight work in nonhuman primates that has revealed how neuromodulation changes neural activity at different scales from single neuron activity to functional connectivity, providing key insight into how neuromodulation influences the brain. Ultimately, these studies highlight the value of combining neuromodulation with neuroimaging to reveal the mechanisms through which these treatments influence the brain, knowledge vital for refining targeted neuromodulation therapies for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoka Fujimoto
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Lipschultz Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Atsushi Fujimoto
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Lipschultz Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Catherine Elorette
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Lipschultz Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ki Sueng Choi
- Nash Family Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Departments of Radiology and Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Helen Mayberg
- Nash Family Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Departments of Radiology and Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian Russ
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Lipschultz Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University at Langone, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Peter Rudebeck
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Lipschultz Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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18
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Kop BR, Shamli Oghli Y, Grippe TC, Nandi T, Lefkes J, Meijer SW, Farboud S, Engels M, Hamani M, Null M, Radetz A, Hassan U, Darmani G, Chetverikov A, den Ouden HEM, Bergmann TO, Chen R, Verhagen L. Auditory confounds can drive online effects of transcranial ultrasonic stimulation in humans. eLife 2024; 12:RP88762. [PMID: 39190585 PMCID: PMC11349300 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial ultrasonic stimulation (TUS) is rapidly emerging as a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique. TUS is already well-established in animal models, providing foundations to now optimize neuromodulatory efficacy for human applications. Across multiple studies, one promising protocol, pulsed at 1000 Hz, has consistently resulted in motor cortical inhibition in humans (Fomenko et al., 2020). At the same time, a parallel research line has highlighted the potentially confounding influence of peripheral auditory stimulation arising from TUS pulsing at audible frequencies. In this study, we disentangle direct neuromodulatory and indirect auditory contributions to motor inhibitory effects of TUS. To this end, we include tightly matched control conditions across four experiments, one preregistered, conducted independently at three institutions. We employed a combined transcranial ultrasonic and magnetic stimulation paradigm, where TMS-elicited motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) served as an index of corticospinal excitability. First, we replicated motor inhibitory effects of TUS but showed through both tight controls and manipulation of stimulation intensity, duration, and auditory masking conditions that this inhibition was driven by peripheral auditory stimulation, not direct neuromodulation. Furthermore, we consider neuromodulation beyond driving overall excitation/inhibition and show preliminary evidence of how TUS might interact with ongoing neural dynamics instead. Primarily, this study highlights the substantial shortcomings in accounting for the auditory confound in prior TUS-TMS work where only a flip-over sham and no active control was used. The field must critically reevaluate previous findings given the demonstrated impact of peripheral confounds. Furthermore, rigorous experimental design via (in)active control conditions is required to make substantiated claims in future TUS studies. Only when direct effects are disentangled from those driven by peripheral confounds can TUS fully realize its potential for research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Kop
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour; Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Yazan Shamli Oghli
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network; University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Talyta C Grippe
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network; University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Tulika Nandi
- Neuroimaging Center; Johannes-Gutenberg University Medical Center MainzMainzGermany
| | - Judith Lefkes
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour; Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Sjoerd W Meijer
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour; Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Soha Farboud
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour; Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Marwan Engels
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour; Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Michelle Hamani
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network; University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Melissa Null
- Neuroimaging Center; Johannes-Gutenberg University Medical Center MainzMainzGermany
| | - Angela Radetz
- Neuroimaging Center; Johannes-Gutenberg University Medical Center MainzMainzGermany
| | - Umair Hassan
- Neuroimaging Center; Johannes-Gutenberg University Medical Center MainzMainzGermany
| | - Ghazaleh Darmani
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network; University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Andrey Chetverikov
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour; Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
- Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Hanneke EM den Ouden
- Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Til Ole Bergmann
- Neuroimaging Center; Johannes-Gutenberg University Medical Center MainzMainzGermany
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research MainzMainzGermany
| | - Robert Chen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network; University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Lennart Verhagen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour; Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
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19
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Yu K, He B. Transcranial focused ultrasound modulates visual thalamus in a nonhuman primate model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.05.606669. [PMID: 39211081 PMCID: PMC11361111 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.05.606669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The thalamus plays a pivotal role as a neural hub, integrating and distributing visual information to cortical regions responsible for visual processing. Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive brain stimulation technology, enabling modulation of neural circuits with high spatial precision. This study investigates the tFUS neuromodulation at visual thalamus and characterizes the resultant effects on interconnected visual areas in a nonhuman primate model. Experiments were conducted on a rhesus macaque trained in a visual fixation task, combining tFUS stimulation with simultaneous scalp electroencephalography (EEG) and intracranial recordings from area V4, a region closely linked to the thalamus. Ultrasound was delivered through a 128-element random array ultrasound transducer operating at 700 kHz, with the focus steered onto the pulvinar of the thalamus based on neuroanatomical atlas and individual brain model. EEG source imaging revealed localized tFUS-induced activities in the thalamus, midbrain, and visual cortical regions. Critically, tFUS stimulation of the pulvinar can elicit robust neural responses in V4 without visual input, manifested as significant modulations in local field potentials, elevated alpha and gamma power, corroborating the functional thalamocortical connectivity. Furthermore, the tFUS neuromodulatory effects on visually-evoked V4 activities were region-specific within the thalamus and dependent on ultrasound pulse repetition frequency. This work provides direct electrophysiological evidence demonstrating the capability of tFUS in modulating the visual thalamus and its functional impact on interconnected cortical regions in a large mammalian model, paving the way for potential investigations for tFUS treating visual, sensory, and cognitive impairments.
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20
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Riis TS, Feldman DA, Losser AJ, Okifuji A, Kubanek J. Noninvasive targeted modulation of pain circuits with focused ultrasonic waves. Pain 2024:00006396-990000000-00670. [PMID: 39073370 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Direct interventions into deep brain circuits constitute promising treatment modalities for chronic pain. Cingulotomy and deep brain stimulation targeting the anterior cingulate cortex have shown notable improvements in the unpleasantness of pain, but these interventions require brain surgeries. In this study, we have developed an approach that can modulate this deep brain affective hub entirely noninvasively, using low-intensity transcranial-focused ultrasound. Twenty patients with chronic pain received two 40-minute active or sham stimulation protocols and were monitored for one week in a randomized crossover trial. Sixty percent of subjects experienced a clinically meaningful reduction of pain on day 1 and on day 7 following the active stimulation, while sham stimulation provided such benefits only to 15% and 20% of subjects, respectively. On average, active stimulation reduced pain by 60.0% immediately following the intervention and by 43.0% and 33.0% on days 1 and 7 following the intervention. The corresponding sham levels were 14.4%, 12.3%, and 6.6%. The stimulation was well tolerated, and no adverse events were detected. Side effects were generally mild and resolved within 24 hours. Together, the direct, ultrasonic stimulation of the anterior cingulate cortex offers rapid, clinically meaningful, and durable improvements in pain severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Riis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Daniel A Feldman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Adam J Losser
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Akiko Okifuji
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Jan Kubanek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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Alfihed S, Majrashi M, Ansary M, Alshamrani N, Albrahim SH, Alsolami A, Alamari HA, Zaman A, Almutairi D, Kurdi A, Alzaydi MM, Tabbakh T, Al-Otaibi F. Non-Invasive Brain Sensing Technologies for Modulation of Neurological Disorders. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:335. [PMID: 39056611 PMCID: PMC11274405 DOI: 10.3390/bios14070335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The non-invasive brain sensing modulation technology field is experiencing rapid development, with new techniques constantly emerging. This study delves into the field of non-invasive brain neuromodulation, a safer and potentially effective approach for treating a spectrum of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Unlike traditional deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, non-invasive techniques employ ultrasound, electrical currents, and electromagnetic field stimulation to stimulate the brain from outside the skull, thereby eliminating surgery risks and enhancing patient comfort. This study explores the mechanisms of various modalities, including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), highlighting their potential to address chronic pain, anxiety, Parkinson's disease, and depression. We also probe into the concept of closed-loop neuromodulation, which personalizes stimulation based on real-time brain activity. While we acknowledge the limitations of current technologies, our study concludes by proposing future research avenues to advance this rapidly evolving field with its immense potential to revolutionize neurological and psychiatric care and lay the foundation for the continuing advancement of innovative non-invasive brain sensing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salman Alfihed
- Microelectronics and Semiconductor Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia; (S.A.)
| | - Majed Majrashi
- Bioengineering Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Ansary
- Neuroscience Center Research Unit, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naif Alshamrani
- Microelectronics and Semiconductor Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia; (S.A.)
| | - Shahad H. Albrahim
- Bioengineering Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman Alsolami
- Microelectronics and Semiconductor Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia; (S.A.)
| | - Hala A. Alamari
- Bioengineering Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adnan Zaman
- Microelectronics and Semiconductor Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia; (S.A.)
| | - Dhaifallah Almutairi
- Microelectronics and Semiconductor Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia; (S.A.)
| | - Abdulaziz Kurdi
- Advanced Materials Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mai M. Alzaydi
- Bioengineering Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thamer Tabbakh
- Microelectronics and Semiconductor Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia; (S.A.)
| | - Faisal Al-Otaibi
- Neuroscience Center Research Unit, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
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22
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Nandi T, Kop BR, Butts Pauly K, Stagg CJ, Verhagen L. The relationship between parameters and effects in transcranial ultrasonic stimulation. ARXIV 2024:arXiv:2407.01232v2. [PMID: 39010874 PMCID: PMC11247914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Transcranial ultrasonic stimulation (TUS) is rapidly gaining traction for non-invasive human neuromodulation, with a pressing need to establish protocols that maximise neuromodulatory efficacy. In this review, we aggregate and examine empirical evidence for the relationship between tunable TUS parameters and in vitro and in vivo outcomes. Based on this multiscale approach, TUS researchers can make better informed decisions about optimal parameter settings. Importantly, we also discuss the challenges involved in extrapolating results from prior empirical work to future interventions, including the translation of protocols between models and the complex interaction between TUS protocols and the brain. A synthesis of the empirical evidence suggests that larger effects will be observed at lower frequencies within the sub-MHz range, higher intensities and pressures than commonly administered thus far, and longer pulses and pulse train durations. Nevertheless, we emphasise the need for cautious interpretation of empirical data from different experimental paradigms when basing protocols on prior work as we advance towards refined TUS parameters for human neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tulika Nandi
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Benjamin R Kop
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Kim Butts Pauly
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Charlotte J Stagg
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lennart Verhagen
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Pellow C, Pichardo S, Pike GB. A systematic review of preclinical and clinical transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation and opportunities for functional connectomics. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:734-751. [PMID: 38880207 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound has surged forward as a non-invasive and disruptive tool for neuromodulation with applications in basic neuroscience research and the treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions. OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive overview and update of preclinical and clinical transcranial low intensity ultrasound for neuromodulation and emphasize the emerging role of functional brain mapping to guide, better understand, and predict responses. METHODS A systematic review was conducted by searching the Web of Science and Scopus databases for studies on transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation, both in humans and animals. RESULTS 187 relevant studies were identified and reviewed, including 116 preclinical and 71 clinical reports with subjects belonging to diverse cohorts. Milestones of ultrasound neuromodulation are described within an overview of the broader landscape. General neural readouts and outcome measures are discussed, potential confounds are noted, and the emerging use of functional magnetic resonance imaging is highlighted. CONCLUSION Ultrasound neuromodulation has emerged as a powerful tool to study and treat a range of conditions and its combination with various neural readouts has significantly advanced this platform. In particular, the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging has yielded exciting inferences into ultrasound neuromodulation and has the potential to advance our understanding of brain function, neuromodulatory mechanisms, and ultimately clinical outcomes. It is anticipated that these preclinical and clinical trials are the first of many; that transcranial low intensity focused ultrasound, particularly in combination with functional magnetic resonance imaging, has the potential to enhance treatment for a spectrum of neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Pellow
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - G Bruce Pike
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
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24
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Daneshzand M, Guerin B, Kotlarz P, Chou T, Dougherty DD, Edlow BL, Nummenmaa A. Model-based navigation of transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation in humans: Application to targeting the amygdala and thalamus. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:958-969. [PMID: 39094682 PMCID: PMC11367617 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) neuromodulation has shown promise in animals but is challenging to translate to humans because of the thicker skull that heavily scatters ultrasound waves. OBJECTIVE We develop and disseminate a model-based navigation (MBN) tool for acoustic dose delivery in the presence of skull aberrations that is easy to use by non-specialists. METHODS We pre-compute acoustic beams for thousands of virtual transducer locations on the scalp of the subject under study. We use the hybrid angular spectrum solver mSOUND, which runs in ∼4 s per solve per CPU yielding pre-computation times under 1 h for scalp meshes with up to 4000 faces and a parallelization factor of 5. We combine this pre-computed set of beam solutions with optical tracking, thus allowing real-time display of the tFUS beam as the operator freely navigates the transducer around the subject' scalp. We assess the impact of MBN versus line-of-sight targeting (LOST) positioning in simulations of 13 subjects. RESULTS Our navigation tool has a display refresh rate of ∼10 Hz. In our simulations, MBN increased the acoustic dose in the thalamus and amygdala by 8-67 % compared to LOST and avoided complete target misses that affected 10-20 % of LOST cases. MBN also yielded a lower variability of the deposited dose across subjects than LOST. CONCLUSIONS MBN may yield greater and more consistent (less variable) ultrasound dose deposition than transducer placement with line-of-sight targeting, and thus could become a helpful tool to improve the efficacy of tFUS neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Daneshzand
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bastien Guerin
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Parker Kotlarz
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tina Chou
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Darin D Dougherty
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aapo Nummenmaa
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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25
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Legon W, Strohman A, In A, Payne B. Noninvasive neuromodulation of subregions of the human insula differentially affect pain processing and heart-rate variability: a within-subjects pseudo-randomized trial. Pain 2024; 165:1625-1641. [PMID: 38314779 PMCID: PMC11189760 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The insula is an intriguing target for pain modulation. Unfortunately, it lies deep to the cortex making spatially specific noninvasive access difficult. Here, we leverage the high spatial resolution and deep penetration depth of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to nonsurgically modulate the anterior insula (AI) or posterior insula (PI) in humans for effect on subjective pain ratings, electroencephalographic (EEG) contact heat-evoked potentials, as well as autonomic measures including heart-rate variability (HRV). In a within-subjects, repeated-measures, pseudo-randomized trial design, 23 healthy volunteers received brief noxious heat pain stimuli to the dorsum of their right hand during continuous heart-rate, electrodermal, electrocardiography and EEG recording. Low-intensity focused ultrasound was delivered to the AI (anterior short gyrus), PI (posterior longus gyrus), or under an inert Sham condition. The primary outcome measure was pain rating. Low-intensity focused ultrasound to both AI and PI similarly reduced pain ratings but had differential effects on EEG activity. Low-intensity focused ultrasound to PI affected earlier EEG amplitudes, whereas LIFU to AI affected later EEG amplitudes. Only LIFU to the AI affected HRV as indexed by an increase in SD of N-N intervals and mean HRV low-frequency power. Taken together, LIFU is an effective noninvasive method to individually target subregions of the insula in humans for site-specific effects on brain biomarkers of pain processing and autonomic reactivity that translates to reduced perceived pain to a transient heat stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wynn Legon
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Center for Human Neuroscience Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Center for Health Behaviors Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Andrew Strohman
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Alexander In
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Brighton Payne
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Center for Health Behaviors Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
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26
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Li F, Gallego J, Tirko NN, Greaser J, Bashe D, Patel R, Shaker E, Van Valkenburg GE, Alsubhi AS, Wellman S, Singh V, Padilla CG, Gheres KW, Broussard JI, Bagwell R, Mulvihill M, Kozai TDY. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation (LIPUS) modulates microglial activation following intracortical microelectrode implantation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5512. [PMID: 38951525 PMCID: PMC11217463 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49709-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia are important players in surveillance and repair of the brain. Implanting an electrode into the cortex activates microglia, produces an inflammatory cascade, triggers the foreign body response, and opens the blood-brain barrier. These changes can impede intracortical brain-computer interfaces performance. Using two-photon imaging of implanted microelectrodes, we test the hypothesis that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation can reduce microglia-mediated neuroinflammation following the implantation of microelectrodes. In the first week of treatment, we found that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation increased microglia migration speed by 128%, enhanced microglia expansion area by 109%, and a reduction in microglial activation by 17%, indicating improved tissue healing and surveillance. Microglial coverage of the microelectrode was reduced by 50% and astrocytic scarring by 36% resulting in an increase in recording performance at chronic time. The data indicate that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation helps reduce the foreign body response around chronic intracortical microelectrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Computational Modeling and Simulation PhD Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jazlyn Gallego
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Natasha N Tirko
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | | | - Derek Bashe
- Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rudra Patel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Eric Shaker
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Vanshika Singh
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Camila Garcia Padilla
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Takashi D Y Kozai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- NeuroTech Center, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Ramachandran S, Gao H, Yttri E, Yu K, He B. An Investigation of Parameter-Dependent Cell-Type Specific Effects of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation Using an Awake Head-Fixed Rodent Model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.24.600515. [PMID: 38979298 PMCID: PMC11230196 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.24.600515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is a promising neuromodulation technique able to target shallow and deep brain structures with high precision. Previous studies have demonstrated that tFUS stimulation responses are both cell-type specific and controllable through altering stimulation parameters. Specifically, tFUS can elicit time-locked neural activity in regular spiking units (RSUs) that is sensitive to increases in pulse repetition frequency (PRF), while time-locked responses are not seen in fast spiking units (FSUs). These findings suggest a unique capability of tFUS to alter circuit network dynamics with cell-type specificity; however, these results could be biased by the use of anesthesia, which significantly modulates neural activities. In this study, we develop an awake head-fixed rat model specifically designed for tFUS study, and address a key question if tFUS still has cell-type specificity under awake conditions. Using this novel animal model, we examined a series of PRFs and burst duty cycles (DCs) to determine their effects on neuronal subpopulations without anesthesia. We conclude that cell-type specific time-locked and delayed responses to tFUS as well as PRF and DC sensitivity are present in the awake animal model and that despite some differences in response, isoflurane anesthesia is not a major confound in studying the cell-type specificity of ultrasound neuromodulation. We further determine that, in an awake, head-fixed setting, the preferred PRF and DC for inducing time-locked excitation with our pulsed tFUS paradigm are 1500 Hz and 60%, respectively.
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28
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Kosnoff J, Yu K, Liu C, He B. Transcranial focused ultrasound to V5 enhances human visual motion brain-computer interface by modulating feature-based attention. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4382. [PMID: 38862476 PMCID: PMC11167030 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48576-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
A brain-computer interface (BCI) enables users to control devices with their minds. Despite advancements, non-invasive BCIs still exhibit high error rates, prompting investigation into the potential reduction through concurrent targeted neuromodulation. Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technology with high spatiotemporal precision. This study examines whether tFUS neuromodulation can improve BCI outcomes, and explores the underlying mechanism of action using high-density electroencephalography (EEG) source imaging (ESI). As a result, V5-targeted tFUS significantly reduced the error in a BCI speller task. Source analyses revealed a significantly increase in theta and alpha activities in the tFUS condition at both V5 and downstream in the dorsal visual processing pathway. Correlation analysis indicated that the connection within the dorsal processing pathway was preserved during tFUS stimulation, while the ventral connection was weakened. These findings suggest that V5-targeted tFUS enhances feature-based attention to visual motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Kosnoff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237, USA
| | - Kai Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237, USA
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Bin He
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237, USA.
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29
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Grohn J, Khalighinejad N, Jahn CI, Bongioanni A, Schüffelgen U, Sallet J, Rushworth MFS, Kolling N. General mechanisms of task engagement in the primate frontal cortex. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4802. [PMID: 38839745 PMCID: PMC11153620 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49128-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Staying engaged is necessary to maintain goal-directed behaviors. Despite this, engagement exhibits continuous, intrinsic fluctuations. Even in experimental settings, animals, unlike most humans, repeatedly and spontaneously move between periods of complete task engagement and disengagement. We, therefore, looked at behavior in male macaques (macaca mulatta) in four tasks while recording fMRI signals. We identified consistent autocorrelation in task disengagement. This made it possible to build models capturing task-independent engagement. We identified task general patterns of neural activity linked to impending sudden task disengagement in mid-cingulate gyrus. By contrast, activity centered in perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) was associated with maintenance of performance across tasks. Importantly, we carefully controlled for task-specific factors such as the reward history and other motivational effects, such as response vigor, in our analyses. Moreover, we showed pgACC activity had a causal link to task engagement: transcranial ultrasound stimulation of pgACC changed task engagement patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Grohn
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Nima Khalighinejad
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Caroline I Jahn
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA
| | - Alessandro Bongioanni
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191, Gif/Yvette, France
| | - Urs Schüffelgen
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jerome Sallet
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Université Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, 18 Avenue Doyen Lepine, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Matthew F S Rushworth
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nils Kolling
- Université Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, 18 Avenue Doyen Lepine, 69500, Bron, France
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Pôle EST, Bron, France
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30
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Lord B, Sanguinetti JL, Ruiz L, Miskovic V, Segre J, Young S, Fini ME, Allen JJB. Transcranial focused ultrasound to the posterior cingulate cortex modulates default mode network and subjective experience: an fMRI pilot study. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1392199. [PMID: 38895168 PMCID: PMC11184145 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1392199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) is an emerging neuromodulation tool for temporarily altering brain activity and probing network functioning. The effects of TFUS on the default mode network (DMN) are unknown. Objective The study examined the effects of transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) on the functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN), specifically by targeting the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Additionally, we investigated the subjective effects of TFUS on mood, mindfulness, and self-related processing. Methods The study employed a randomized, single-blind design involving 30 healthy subjects. Participants were randomly assigned to either the active TFUS group or the sham TFUS group. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans were conducted before and after the TFUS application. To measure subjective effects, the Toronto Mindfulness Scale, the Visual Analog Mood Scale, and the Amsterdam Resting State Questionnaire were administered at baseline and 30 min after sonication. The Self Scale and an unstructured interview were also administered 30 min after sonication. Results The active TFUS group exhibited significant reductions in functional connectivity along the midline of the DMN, while the sham TFUS group showed no changes. The active TFUS group demonstrated increased state mindfulness, reduced Global Vigor, and temporary alterations in the sense of ego, sense of time, and recollection of memories. The sham TFUS group showed an increase in state mindfulness, too, with no other subjective effects. Conclusions TFUS targeted at the PCC can alter DMN connectivity and cause changes in subjective experience. These findings support the potential of TFUS to serve both as a research tool and as a potential therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Lord
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Joseph L. Sanguinetti
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Sanmai Technologies, PBC, Sunnyvale, CA, United States
| | - Lisannette Ruiz
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Sanmai Technologies, PBC, Sunnyvale, CA, United States
| | | | - Joel Segre
- X, the Moonshot Factory, Mountain View, CA, United States
| | - Shinzen Young
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Maria E. Fini
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - John J. B. Allen
- SEMA Lab, Psychology Department, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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31
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Song W, Jayaprakash N, Saleknezhad N, Puleo C, Al-Abed Y, Martin JH, Zanos S. Transspinal Focused Ultrasound Suppresses Spinal Reflexes in Healthy Rats. Neuromodulation 2024; 27:614-624. [PMID: 37530695 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2023.04.476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Low-intensity, focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging noninvasive neuromodulation approach, with improved spatial and temporal resolution and penetration depth compared to other noninvasive electrical stimulation strategies. FUS has been used to modulate circuits in the brain and the peripheral nervous system, however, its potential to modulate spinal circuits is unclear. In this study, we assessed the effect of trans-spinal FUS (tsFUS) on spinal reflexes in healthy rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS tsFUS targeting different spinal segments was delivered for 1 minute, under anesthesia. Monosynaptic H-reflex of the sciatic nerve, polysynaptic flexor reflex of the sural nerve, and withdrawal reflex tested with a hot plate were measured before, during, and after tsFUS. RESULTS tsFUS reversibly suppresses the H-reflex in a spinal segment-, acoustic pressure- and pulse-repetition frequency (PRF)-dependent manner. tsFUS with high PRF augments the degree of homosynaptic depression of the H-reflex observed with paired stimuli. It suppresses the windup of components of the flexor reflex associated with slower, C-afferent, but not faster, A- afferent fibers. Finally, it increases the latency of the withdrawal reflex. tsFUS does not elicit neuronal loss in the spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence that tsFUS reversibly suppresses spinal reflexes and suggests that tsFUS could be a safe and effective strategy for spinal cord neuromodulation in disorders associated with hyperreflexia, including spasticity after spinal cord injury and painful syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiguo Song
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Naveen Jayaprakash
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Nafiseh Saleknezhad
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Chris Puleo
- General Electric Research, Niskayuna, NY, USA
| | - Yousef Al-Abed
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - John H Martin
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, Center for Discovery and Innovation, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stavros Zanos
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA; Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY; Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, Manhasset, NY.
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32
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Lee SA, Kamimura HAS, Smith M, Konofagou EE. Functional Cerebral Neurovascular Mapping During Focused Ultrasound Peripheral Neuromodulation of Neuropathic Pain. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2024; 71:1770-1779. [PMID: 38198257 PMCID: PMC11105977 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2024.3352025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nociceptive pain is required for healthy function, yet, neuropathic pain (disease or injury) can be severely debilitating. Though a wide-array of treatment options are available, they are often systemic and/or invasive. As a promising neuromodulation treatment, Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a noninvasive and highly spatially-targeted technique shown to stimulate neural activity, yet, effects on pain signaling are currently unknown. OBJECTIVE Develop and validate a method for studying FUS nerve stimulation modulation of pain-evoked neural responses in vivo. METHODS We developed a high-resolution functional ultrasound (fUS) method capable of mapping cortical responses in healthy and neuropathic pain mice in response to FUS neuromodulation treatment. RESULTS FUS-evoked hemodynamic responses are correlated with the intensity of peripheral neuromodulation. We confirm functional connectivity is altered in neuropathic mice and demonstrate that FUS can modulate neuropathic pain-evoked hemodynamics. CONCLUSIONS The findings presented herein provides evidence for an FUS-based nerve pain method and validates the fUS technique developed for monitoring pain-evoked hemodynamics. SIGNIFICANCE We anticipate that the findings presented herein describe a noninvasive and flexible nerve modulation technique for pain mitigation, furthering evidence for clinical translation.
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Atkinson-Clement C, Alkhawashki M, Ross J, Gatica M, Zhang C, Sallet J, Kaiser M. Dynamical and individualised approach of transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation effects in non-human primates. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11916. [PMID: 38789473 PMCID: PMC11126417 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62562-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) allows to alter brain functioning with a high spatial resolution and to reach deep targets. However, the time-course of TUS effects remains largely unknown. We applied TUS on three brain targets for three different monkeys: the anterior medial prefrontal cortex, the supplementary motor area and the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex. For each, one resting-state fMRI was acquired between 30 and 150 min after TUS as well as one without stimulation (control). We captured seed-based brain connectivity changes dynamically and on an individual basis. We also assessed between individuals and between targets homogeneity and brain features that predicted TUS changes. We found that TUS prompts heterogenous functional connectivity alterations yet retain certain consistent changes; we identified 6 time-courses of changes including transient and long duration alterations; with a notable degree of accuracy we found that brain alterations could partially be predicted. Altogether, our results highlight that TUS induces heterogeneous functional connectivity alterations. On a more technical point, we also emphasize the need to consider brain changes over-time rather than just observed during a snapshot; to consider inter-individual variability since changes could be highly different from one individual to another.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - James Ross
- Precision Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Marilyn Gatica
- Precision Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Chencheng Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai, China
| | - Jerome Sallet
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, Université Lyon 1, Bron, France
| | - Marcus Kaiser
- Precision Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Hsieh TH, Chu PC, Nguyen TXD, Kuo CW, Chang PK, Chen KHS, Liu HL. Neuromodulatory Responses Elicited by Intermittent versus Continuous Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation of the Motor Cortex in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5687. [PMID: 38891875 PMCID: PMC11171676 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS) has emerged as a promising neuromodulation technique that delivers acoustic energy with high spatial resolution for inducing long-term potentiation (LTP)- or depression (LTD)-like plasticity. The variability in the primary effects of tFUS-induced plasticity could be due to different stimulation patterns, such as intermittent versus continuous, and is an aspect that requires further detailed exploration. In this study, we developed a platform to evaluate the neuromodulatory effects of intermittent and continuous tFUS on motor cortical plasticity before and after tFUS application. Three groups of rats were exposed to either intermittent, continuous, or sham tFUS. We analyzed the neuromodulatory effects on motor cortical excitability by examining changes in motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). We also investigated the effects of different stimulation patterns on excitatory and inhibitory neural biomarkers, examining c-Fos and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD-65) expression using immunohistochemistry staining. Additionally, we evaluated the safety of tFUS by analyzing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression. The current results indicated that intermittent tFUS produced a facilitation effect on motor excitability, while continuous tFUS significantly inhibited motor excitability. Furthermore, neither tFUS approach caused injury to the stimulation sites in rats. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed increased c-Fos and decreased GAD-65 expression following intermittent tFUS. Conversely, continuous tFUS downregulated c-Fos and upregulated GAD-65 expression. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that both intermittent and continuous tFUS effectively modulate cortical excitability. The neuromodulatory effects may result from the activation or deactivation of cortical neurons following tFUS intervention. These effects are considered safe and well-tolerated, highlighting the potential for using different patterns of tFUS in future clinical neuromodulatory applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Hsun Hsieh
- School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (T.X.D.N.); (C.-W.K.); (P.-K.C.)
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
- Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chun Chu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
| | - Thi Xuan Dieu Nguyen
- School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (T.X.D.N.); (C.-W.K.); (P.-K.C.)
| | - Chi-Wei Kuo
- School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (T.X.D.N.); (C.-W.K.); (P.-K.C.)
| | - Pi-Kai Chang
- School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (T.X.D.N.); (C.-W.K.); (P.-K.C.)
| | - Kai-Hsiang Stanley Chen
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu 300195, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Li Liu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
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Meng W, Lin Z, Lu Y, Long X, Meng L, Su C, Wang Z, Niu L. Spatiotemporal Distributions of Acoustic Propagation in Skull During Ultrasound Neuromodulation. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2024; 71:584-595. [PMID: 38557630 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2024.3383027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
There is widespread interest and concern about the evidence and hypothesis that the auditory system is involved in ultrasound neuromodulation. We have addressed this problem by performing acoustic shear wave simulations in mouse skull and behavioral experiments in deaf mice. The simulation results showed that shear waves propagating along the skull did not reach sufficient acoustic pressure in the auditory cortex to modulate neurons. Behavioral experiments were subsequently performed to awaken anesthetized mice with ultrasound targeting the motor cortex or ventral tegmental area (VTA). The experimental results showed that ultrasound stimulation (US) of the target areas significantly increased arousal scores even in deaf mice, whereas the loss of ultrasound gel abolished the effect. Immunofluorescence staining also showed that ultrasound can modulate neurons in the target area, whereas neurons in the auditory cortex required the involvement of the normal auditory system for activation. In summary, the shear waves propagating along the skull cannot reach the auditory cortex and induce neuronal activation. Ultrasound neuromodulation-induced arousal behavior needs direct action on functionally relevant stimulation targets in the absence of auditory system participation.
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Pan X, Huang W, Nie G, Wang C, Wang H. Ultrasound-Sensitive Intelligent Nanosystems: A Promising Strategy for the Treatment of Neurological Diseases. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2303180. [PMID: 37871967 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202303180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Neurological diseases are a major global health challenge, affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Ultrasound therapy plays an irreplaceable role in the treatment of neurological diseases due to its noninvasive, highly focused, and strong tissue penetration capabilities. However, the complexity of brain and nervous system and the safety risks associated with prolonged exposure to ultrasound therapy severely limit the applicability of ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound-sensitive intelligent nanosystems (USINs) are a novel therapeutic strategy for neurological diseases that bring greater spatiotemporal controllability and improve safety to overcome these challenges. This review provides a detailed overview of therapeutic strategies and clinical advances of ultrasound in neurological diseases, focusing on the potential of USINs-based ultrasound in the treatment of neurological diseases. Based on the physical and chemical effects induced by ultrasound, rational design of USINs is a prerequisite for improving the efficacy of ultrasound therapy. Recent developments of ultrasound-sensitive nanocarriers and nanoagents are systemically reviewed. Finally, the challenges and developing prospects of USINs are discussed in depth, with a view to providing useful insights and guidance for efficient ultrasound treatment of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Pan
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Wenping Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guangjun Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Changyong Wang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Hai Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Bancel T, Béranger B, Daniel M, Didier M, Santin M, Rachmilevitch I, Shapira Y, Tanter M, Bardinet E, Fernandez Vidal S, Attali D, Galléa C, Dizeux A, Vidailhet M, Lehéricy S, Grabli D, Pyatigorskaya N, Karachi C, Hainque E, Aubry JF. Sustained reduction of essential tremor with low-power non-thermal transcranial focused ultrasound stimulations in humans. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:636-647. [PMID: 38734066 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique; when skull aberrations are compensated for, this technique allows, with millimetric accuracy, circumvention of the invasive surgical procedure associated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) and the limited spatial specificity of transcranial magnetic stimulation. OBJECTIVE /hypothesis: We hypothesize that MR-guided low-power TUS can induce a sustained decrease of tremor power in patients suffering from medically refractive essential tremor. METHODS The dominant hand only was targeted, and two anatomical sites were sonicated in this exploratory study: the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) and the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRT). Patients (N = 9) were equipped with MR-compatible accelerometers attached to their hands to monitor their tremor in real-time during TUS. RESULTS VIM neurostimulations followed by a low-duty cycle (5 %) DRT stimulation induced a substantial decrease in the tremor power in four patients, with a minimum of 89.9 % reduction when compared with the baseline power a few minutes after the DRT stimulation. The only patient stimulated in the VIM only and with a low duty cycle (5 %) also experienced a sustained reduction of the tremor (up to 93.4 %). Four patients (N = 4) did not respond. The temperature at target was 37.2 ± 1.4 °C compared to 36.8 ± 1.4 °C for a 3 cm away control point. CONCLUSIONS MR-guided low power TUS can induce a substantial and sustained decrease of tremor power. Follow-up studies need to be conducted to reproduce the effect and better to understand the variability of the response amongst patients. MR thermometry during neurostimulations showed no significant thermal rise, supporting a mechanical effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bancel
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS UMR 8063, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Benoît Béranger
- ICM-Paris Brain Institute, Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche-CENIR, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Maxime Daniel
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS UMR 8063, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Mélanie Didier
- ICM-Paris Brain Institute, Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche-CENIR, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Santin
- ICM-Paris Brain Institute, Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche-CENIR, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Mickael Tanter
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS UMR 8063, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Eric Bardinet
- ICM-Paris Brain Institute, Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche-CENIR, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Sara Fernandez Vidal
- ICM-Paris Brain Institute, Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche-CENIR, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - David Attali
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS UMR 8063, PSL University, Paris, France; Université Paris Cité, GHU-Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte Anne, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Cécile Galléa
- ICM-Paris Brain Institute, Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche-CENIR, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Dizeux
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS UMR 8063, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Marie Vidailhet
- ICM-Paris Brain Institute, Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche-CENIR, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France; Department of Neurology, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Lehéricy
- ICM-Paris Brain Institute, Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche-CENIR, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France; Department of Neuroradiology, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - David Grabli
- Department of Neurology, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Nadya Pyatigorskaya
- ICM-Paris Brain Institute, Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche-CENIR, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France; Department of Neuroradiology, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Carine Karachi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Elodie Hainque
- Department of Neurology, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Jean-François Aubry
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS UMR 8063, PSL University, Paris, France.
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Osada T, Konishi S. Noninvasive intervention by transcranial ultrasound stimulation: Modulation of neural circuits and its clinical perspectives. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 78:273-281. [PMID: 38505983 PMCID: PMC11488602 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Low-intensity focused transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is an emerging noninvasive technique capable of stimulating both the cerebral cortex and deep brain structures with high spatial precision. This method is recognized for its potential to comprehensively perturb various brain regions, enabling the modulation of neural circuits, in a manner not achievable through conventional magnetic or electrical brain stimulation techniques. The underlying mechanisms of neuromodulation are based on a phenomenon where mechanical waves of ultrasound kinetically interact with neurons, specifically affecting neuronal membranes and mechanosensitive channels. This interaction induces alterations in the excitability of neurons within the stimulated region. In this review, we briefly present the fundamental principles of ultrasound physics and the physiological mechanisms of TUS neuromodulation. We explain the experimental apparatus and procedures for TUS in humans. Due to the focality, the integration of various methods, including magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance-guided neuronavigation systems, is important to perform TUS experiments for precise targeting. We then review the current state of the literature on TUS neuromodulation, with a particular focus on human subjects, targeting both the cerebral cortex and deep subcortical structures. Finally, we outline future perspectives of TUS in clinical applications in psychiatric and neurological fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Osada
- Department of NeurophysiologyJuntendo University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Seiki Konishi
- Department of NeurophysiologyJuntendo University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
- Research Institute for Diseases of Old AgeJuntendo University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
- Sportology CenterJuntendo University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
- Advanced Research Institute for Health ScienceJuntendo University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
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39
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Wang T, Wang M, Wang J, Li Z, Yuan Y. Modulatory effects of low-intensity retinal ultrasound stimulation on rapid and non-rapid eye movement sleep. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae143. [PMID: 38602742 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Prior investigations have established that the manipulation of neural activity has the potential to influence both rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement sleep. Low-intensity retinal ultrasound stimulation has shown effectiveness in the modulation of neural activity. Nevertheless, the specific effects of retinal ultrasound stimulation on rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement sleep, as well as its potential to enhance overall sleep quality, remain to be elucidated. Here, we found that: In healthy mice, retinal ultrasound stimulation: (i) reduced total sleep time and non-rapid eye movement sleep ratio; (ii) changed relative power and sample entropy of the delta (0.5-4 Hz) in non-rapid eye movement sleep; and (iii) enhanced relative power of the theta (4-8 Hz) and reduced theta-gamma coupling strength in rapid eye movement sleep. In Alzheimer's disease mice with sleep disturbances, retinal ultrasound stimulation: (i) reduced the total sleep time; (ii) altered the relative power of the gamma band during rapid eye movement sleep; and (iii) enhanced the coupling strength of delta-gamma in non-rapid eye movement sleep and weakened the coupling strength of theta-fast gamma. The results indicate that retinal ultrasound stimulation can modulate rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement-related neural activity; however, it is not beneficial to the sleep quality of healthy and Alzheimer's disease mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Wang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Mengran Wang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yi Yuan
- School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
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Lin CW, Cheng MH, Fan CH, Chen HH, Yeh CK. Focused ultrasound stimulation of infralimbic cortex attenuates reinstatement of methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference in rats. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00328. [PMID: 38355360 PMCID: PMC10937235 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) use disorder poses significant challenges to both the affected individuals and society. Current non-drug therapies like transcranial direct-current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation have limitations due to their invasive nature and limited reach to deeper brain areas. Transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) is gaining attention as a noninvasive option with precise spatial targeting, able to affect deeper areas of the brain. This research focused on assessing the effectiveness of FUS in influencing the infralimbic cortex (IL) to prevent the recurrence of MA-seeking behavior, using the conditioned place preference (CPP) method in rats. The study involved twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats. Neuronal activation by FUS was first examined via electromyography (EMG). Rats received alternately with MA or saline, and confined to one of two distinctive compartments in a three compartment apparatus over a 4-day period. After CPP test, extinction, the first reinstatement, and extinction again, FUS was applied to IL prior to the second MA priming-induced reinstatement. Safety assessments were conducted through locomotor and histological function examinations. EMG data confirmed the effectiveness of FUS in activating neurons. Significant attenuation of reinstatement of MA CPP was found, along with successful targeting of the IL region, confirmed through acoustic field scanning, c-Fos immunohistochemistry, and Evans blue dye staining. No damage to brain tissue or impaired locomotor activity was observed. The results of the study indicate that applying FUS to the IL markedly reduced the recurrence of MA seeking behavior, without harming brain tissue or impairing motor skills. This suggests that FUS could be a promising method for treating MA use disorder, with the infralimbic cortex being an effective target for FUS in preventing MA relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Wei Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Min-Hsuan Cheng
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hsiang Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hwei-Hsien Chen
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Institute of Neuroscience, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Program for Aging, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Chih-Kuang Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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Aurup C, Bendig J, Blackman SG, McCune EP, Bae S, Jimenez-Gambin S, Ji R, Konofagou EE. Transcranial Functional Ultrasound Imaging Detects Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation Induced Hemodynamic Changes in Mouse and Nonhuman Primate Brains In Vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.08.583971. [PMID: 38559149 PMCID: PMC10979885 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.08.583971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging noinvasive technique for neuromodulation in the central nervous system (CNS). To evaluate the effects of FUS-induced neuromodulation, many studies used behavioral changes, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or electroencephalography (EEG). However, behavioral readouts are often not easily mapped to specific brain activity, EEG has low spatial resolution limited to the surface of the brain and fMRI requires a large importable scanner that limits additional readouts and manipulations. In this context, functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI) holds promise to directly monitor the effects of FUS neuromodulation with high spatiotemporal resolution in a large field of view, with a comparatively simple and flexible setup. fUSI uses ultrafast Power Doppler Imaging (PDI) to measure changes in cerebral blood volume, which correlates well with neuronal activity and local field potentials. We designed a setup that aligns a FUS transducer with a linear array to allow immediate subsequent monitoring of the hemodynamic response with fUSI during and after FUS neuromodulation. We established a positive correlation between FUS pressure and the size of the activated area, as well as changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) and found that unilateral sonications produce bilateral hemodynamic changes with ipsilateral accentuation in mice. We further demonstrated the ability to perform fully noninvasive, transcranial FUS-fUSI in nonhuman primates for the first time by using a lower-frequency transducer configuration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Aurup
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonas Bendig
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel G. Blackman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erica P. McCune
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sua Bae
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Robin Ji
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisa E. Konofagou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Giacometti C, Autran-Clavagnier D, Dureux A, Viñales L, Lamberton F, Procyk E, Wilson CRE, Amiez C, Hadj-Bouziane F. Differential functional organization of amygdala-medial prefrontal cortex networks in macaque and human. Commun Biol 2024; 7:269. [PMID: 38443489 PMCID: PMC10914752 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05918-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the course of evolution, the amygdala (AMG) and medial frontal cortex (mPFC) network, involved in behavioral adaptation, underwent structural changes in the old-world monkey and human lineages. Yet, whether and how the functional organization of this network differs remains poorly understood. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imagery, we show that the functional connectivity (FC) between AMG nuclei and mPFC regions differs between humans and awake macaques. In humans, the AMG-mPFC FC displays U-shaped pattern along the corpus callosum: a positive FC with the ventromedial prefrontal (vmPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a negative FC with the anterior mid-cingulate cortex (MCC), and a positive FC with the posterior MCC. Conversely, in macaques, the negative FC shifted more ventrally at the junction between the vmPFC and the ACC. The functional organization divergence of AMG-mPFC network between humans and macaques might help understanding behavioral adaptation abilities differences in their respective socio-ecological niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Giacometti
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, 69500, Bron, France.
| | - Delphine Autran-Clavagnier
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, 69500, Bron, France
- Inovarion, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Dureux
- Integrative Multisensory Perception Action & Cognition Team (ImpAct), INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL); Université Lyon 1, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Laura Viñales
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Franck Lamberton
- La Structure Fédérative de Recherche Santé Lyon-Est, CNRS UAR 3453, INSERM US7, Lyon 1 University, 69008, Lyon, France
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Multimodal et Pluridisciplinaire en Imagerie du Vivant (CERMEP), 69677, Bron, France
| | - Emmanuel Procyk
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Charles R E Wilson
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Céline Amiez
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, 69500, Bron, France.
| | - Fadila Hadj-Bouziane
- Integrative Multisensory Perception Action & Cognition Team (ImpAct), INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL); Université Lyon 1, 69500, Bron, France.
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Chou T, Deckersbach T, Guerin B, Sretavan Wong K, Borron BM, Kanabar A, Hayden AN, Long MP, Daneshzand M, Pace-Schott EF, Dougherty DD. Transcranial focused ultrasound of the amygdala modulates fear network activation and connectivity. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:312-320. [PMID: 38447773 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current noninvasive brain stimulation methods are incapable of directly modulating subcortical brain regions critically involved in psychiatric disorders. Transcranial Focused Ultrasound (tFUS) is a newer form of noninvasive stimulation that could modulate the amygdala, a subcortical region implicated in fear. OBJECTIVE We investigated the effects of active and sham tFUS of the amygdala on fear circuit activation, skin conductance responses (SCR), and self-reported anxiety during a fear-inducing task. We also investigated amygdala tFUS' effects on amygdala-fear circuit resting-state functional connectivity. METHODS Thirty healthy individuals were randomized in this double-blinded study to active or sham tFUS of the left amygdala. We collected fMRI scans, SCR, and self-reported anxiety during a fear-inducing task (participants viewed red or green circles which indicated the risk of receiving an aversive stimulus), as well as resting-state scans, before and after tFUS. RESULTS Compared to sham tFUS, active tFUS was associated with decreased (pre to post tFUS) blood-oxygen-level-dependent fMRI activation in the amygdala (F(1,25) = 4.86, p = 0.04, η2 = 0.16) during the fear task, and lower hippocampal (F(1,27) = 4.41, p = 0.05, η2 = 0.14), and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (F(1,27) = 6.26, p = 0.02; η2 = 0.19) activation during the post tFUS fear task. The decrease in amygdala activation was correlated with decreased subjective anxiety (r = 0.62, p = 0.03). There was no group effect in SCR changes from pre to post tFUS (F(1,23) = 0.85, p = 0.37). The active tFUS group also showed decreased amygdala-insula (F(1,28) = 4.98, p = 0.03) and amygdala-hippocampal (F(1,28) = 7.14, p = 0.01) rsFC, and increased amygdala-ventromedial prefrontal cortex (F(1,28) = 3.52, p = 0.05) resting-state functional connectivity. CONCLUSIONS tFUS can change functional connectivity and brain region activation associated with decreased anxiety. Future studies should investigate tFUS' therapeutic potential for individuals with clinical levels of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Chou
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
| | - Thilo Deckersbach
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Bastien Guerin
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Karianne Sretavan Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin M Borron
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Anish Kanabar
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Ashley N Hayden
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Marina P Long
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Mohammad Daneshzand
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Edward F Pace-Schott
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Darin D Dougherty
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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Newman M, Rasiah PK, Kusunose J, Rex TS, Mahadevan-Jansen A, Hardenburger J, Jansen ED, Millis B, Caskey CF. Ultrasound Modulates Calcium Activity in Cultured Neurons, Glial Cells, Endothelial Cells and Pericytes. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2024; 50:341-351. [PMID: 38087717 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ultrasound is being researched as a method to modulate the brain. Studies of the interaction of sound with neurons support the hypothesis that mechanosensitive ion channels play an important role in ultrasound neuromodulation. The response of cells other than neurons (e.g., astrocytes, pericytes and endothelial cells) have not been fully characterized, despite playing an important role in brain function. METHODS To address this gap in knowledge, we examined cultured murine primary cortical neurons, astrocytes, endothelial cells and pericytes in an in vitro widefield microscopy setup during application of a 500 ms burst of 250 kHz focused ultrasound over a pressure range known to elicit neuromodulation. We examined cell membrane health in response to a range of pulses and used optical calcium indicators in conjunction with pharmacological antagonists to selectively block different groups of thermo- and mechanosensitive ion channels known to be responsive to ultrasound. RESULTS All cell types experienced an increase in calcium fluorescence in response to ultrasound. Gadolinium (Gad), 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) and ruthenium red (RR) reduced the percentage of responding neurons and magnitude of response. The percentage of astrocytes responding was significantly lowered only by Gad, whereas both 2-APB and Gad decreased the amplitude of the fluorescence response. 2-APB decreased the percentage of responding endothelial cells, whereas only Gad reduced the magnitude of responses. Pericytes exposed to RR or Gad were less likely to respond to stimulation. RR had no detectable effect on the magnitude of the pericyte responses while 2-APB and Gad significantly decreased the fluorescence intensity, despite not affecting the percentage responding. CONCLUSION Our study highlights the role of non-neuronal cells during FUS neuromodulation. All of the investigated cell types are sensitive to mechanical ultrasound stimulation and rely on mechanosensitive ion channels to undergo ultrasound neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malachy Newman
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Pratheepa Kumari Rasiah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jiro Kusunose
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Tonia S Rex
- Department of Opthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Anita Mahadevan-Jansen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jacob Hardenburger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - E Duco Jansen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Bryan Millis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Charles F Caskey
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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45
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Zadeh AK, Raghuram H, Shrestha S, Kibreab M, Kathol I, Martino D, Pike GB, Pichardo S, Monchi O. The effect of transcranial ultrasound pulse repetition frequency on sustained inhibition in the human primary motor cortex: A double-blind, sham-controlled study. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:476-484. [PMID: 38621645 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation hold promise for inducing brain plasticity. However, their limited precision may hamper certain applications. In contrast, Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS), known for its precision and deep brain targeting capabilities, requires further investigation to establish its efficacy in producing enduring effects for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. OBJECTIVE To investigate the enduring effects of different pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) of TUS on motor corticospinal excitability. METHODS T1-, T2-weighted, and zero echo time magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 21 neurologically healthy participants for neuronavigation, skull reconstruction, and the performance of transcranial ultrasound and thermal modelling. The effects of three different TUS PRFs (10, 100, and 1000 Hz) with a constant duty cycle of 10 % on corticospinal excitability in the primary motor cortex were assessed using TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs). Each PRF and sham condition was evaluated on separate days, with measurements taken 5-, 30-, and 60-min post-TUS. RESULTS A significant decrease in MEP amplitude was observed with a PRF of 10 Hz (p = 0.007), which persisted for at least 30 min, and with a PRF of 100 Hz (p = 0.001), lasting over 60 min. However, no significant changes were found for the PRF of 1000 Hz and the sham conditions. CONCLUSION This study highlights the significance of PRF selection in TUS and underscores its potential as a non-invasive approach to reduce corticospinal excitability, offering valuable insights for future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali K Zadeh
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | | | - Shirshak Shrestha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Mekale Kibreab
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Iris Kathol
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Davide Martino
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - G Bruce Pike
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Oury Monchi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Radiology, Radio-oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Université de Montreal, QC, Canada; Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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46
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Bao S, Kim H, Shettigar NB, Li Y, Lei Y. Personalized depth-specific neuromodulation of the human primary motor cortex via ultrasound. J Physiol 2024; 602:933-948. [PMID: 38358314 DOI: 10.1113/jp285613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive brain stimulation has the potential to boost neuronal plasticity in the primary motor cortex (M1), but it remains unclear whether the stimulation of both superficial and deep layers of the human motor cortex can effectively promote M1 plasticity. Here, we leveraged transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) to precisely target M1 circuits at depths of approximately 5 mm and 16 mm from the cortical surface. Initially, we generated computed tomography images from each participant's individual anatomical magnetic resonance images (MRI), which allowed for the generation of accurate acoustic simulations. This process ensured that personalized TUS was administered exactly to the targeted depths within M1 for each participant. Using long-term depression and long-term potentiation (LTD/LTP) theta-burst stimulation paradigms, we examined whether TUS over distinct depths of M1 could induce LTD/LTP plasticity. Our findings indicated that continuous theta-burst TUS-induced LTD-like plasticity with both superficial and deep M1 stimulation, persisting for at least 30 min. In comparison, sham TUS did not significantly alter M1 excitability. Moreover, intermittent theta-burst TUS did not result in the induction of LTP- or LTD-like plasticity with either superficial or deep M1 stimulation. These findings suggest that the induction of M1 plasticity can be achieved with ultrasound stimulation targeting distinct depths of M1, which is contingent on the characteristics of TUS. KEY POINTS: The study integrated personalized transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) with electrophysiology to determine whether TUS targeting superficial and deep layers of the human motor cortex (M1) could elicit long-term depression (LTD) or long-term potentiation (LTP) plastic changes. Utilizing acoustic simulations derived from individualized pseudo-computed tomography scans, we ensured the precision of TUS delivery to the intended M1 depths for each participant. Continuous theta-burst TUS targeting both the superficial and deep layers of M1 resulted in the emergence of LTD-like plasticity, lasting for at least 30 min. Administering intermittent theta-burst TUS to both the superficial and deep layers of M1 did not lead to the induction of LTP- or LTD-like plastic changes. We suggest that theta-burst TUS targeting distinct depths of M1 can induce plasticity, but this effect is dependent on specific TUS parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shancheng Bao
- Program of Motor Neuroscience, Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Hakjoo Kim
- Program of Motor Neuroscience, Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Nandan B Shettigar
- Program of Motor Neuroscience, Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Yuming Lei
- Program of Motor Neuroscience, Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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Bendau EV, McCune EP, Blackman SG, Kamimura HAS, Aurup C, Konofagou EE. Modulation of cardio-respiratory activity in mice via transcranial focused ultrasound. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2024; 50:332-340. [PMID: 38105118 PMCID: PMC10903588 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of FUS on autonomic nervous system activity, including heart and respiratory rates, and to separate the thermal modulation from combined thermal and mechanical FUS effects. METHODS The thalamus and hypothalamus of wild-type mice were sonicated with a continuous-wave, 2 MHz FUS transducer at pressures of 425 and 850 kPa for 60 seconds. Cardiac and respiratory rates were monitored as signs of autonomic nervous activity. FUS-induced changes in autonomic activity were compared to FUS targeted to a spatially-distant motor region and to laser-induced heating. RESULTS FUS delivered to the primary target over the thalamus and hypothalamus at 850 kPa reversibly increased the respiratory rate by 6.5±3.2 breaths per minute and decreased the heart rate by 3.2±1.8 beats per minute. No significant changes occurred in this region at 425 kPa or when targeting the motor regions at 850 kPa. Laser heating with the same temperature rise profile produced by 850 kPa sonication resulted in cardiorespiratory modulation similar to that of FUS. CONCLUSIONS FUS is capable of reversibly and non-invasively modulating cardiorespiratory activity in mice. Localized changes in temperature may constitute the main cause for this activity, though further investigation is warranted into the distinct and complementary mechanisms of mechanically- and thermally-induced FUS neuromodulation. Close monitoring of vital signs during FUS neuromodulation may be warranted to monitor systemic responses to stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan V Bendau
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 19-419, New York, NY, 10032, United States
| | - Erica P McCune
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 19-419, New York, NY, 10032, United States
| | - Samuel G Blackman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 19-419, New York, NY, 10032, United States
| | - Hermes A S Kamimura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 19-419, New York, NY, 10032, United States
| | - Christian Aurup
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 19-419, New York, NY, 10032, United States
| | - Elisa E Konofagou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 19-419, New York, NY, 10032, United States; Department of Radiology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 19-419, New York, NY, 10032, United States.
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48
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Riis TS, Losser AJ, Kassavetis P, Moretti P, Kubanek J. Noninvasive modulation of essential tremor with focused ultrasonic waves. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:016033. [PMID: 38335553 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad27ef] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Objective: Transcranial focused low-intensity ultrasound has the potential to noninvasively modulate confined regions deep inside the human brain, which could provide a new tool for causal interrogation of circuit function in humans. However, it has been unclear whether the approach is potent enough to modulate behavior.Approach: To test this, we applied low-intensity ultrasound to a deep brain thalamic target, the ventral intermediate nucleus, in three patients with essential tremor.Main results: Brief, 15 s stimulations of the target at 10% duty cycle with low-intensity ultrasound, repeated less than 30 times over a period of 90 min, nearly abolished tremor (98% and 97% tremor amplitude reduction) in 2 out of 3 patients. The effect was observed within seconds of the stimulation onset and increased with ultrasound exposure time. The effect gradually vanished following the stimulation, suggesting that the stimulation was safe with no harmful long-term consequences detected.Significance: This result demonstrates that low-intensity focused ultrasound can robustly modulate deep brain regions in humans with notable effects on overt motor behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Riis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
| | - Adam J Losser
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
| | - Panagiotis Kassavetis
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, United States of America
| | - Paolo Moretti
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, United States of America
- George E. Wahlen, VA, Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, United States of America
| | - Jan Kubanek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
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49
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Riis T, Feldman D, Losser A, Mickey B, Kubanek J. Device for Multifocal Delivery of Ultrasound Into Deep Brain Regions in Humans. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2024; 71:660-668. [PMID: 37695955 PMCID: PMC10803076 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2023.3313987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Low-intensity focused ultrasound provides the means to noninvasively stimulate or release drugs in specified deep brain targets. However, successful clinical translations require hardware that maximizes acoustic transmission through the skull, enables flexible electronic steering, and provides accurate and reproducible targeting while minimizing the use of MRI. We have developed a device that addresses these practical requirements. The device delivers ultrasound through the temporal and parietal skull windows, which minimize the attenuation and distortions of the ultrasound by the skull. The device consists of 252 independently controlled elements, which provides the ability to modulate multiple deep brain targets at a high spatiotemporal resolution, without the need to move the device or the subject. And finally, the device uses a mechanical registration method that enables accurate deep brain targeting both inside and outside of the MRI. Using this method, a single MRI scan is necessary for accurate targeting; repeated subsequent treatments can be performed reproducibly in an MRI-free manner. We validated these functions by transiently modulating specific deep brain regions in two patients with treatment-resistant depression.
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50
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Yu K, Schmitt S, Ni Y, Crane EC, Smith MA, He B. Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Remotely Modulates Extrastriate Visual Cortex with Subregion Specificity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.20.576476. [PMID: 38328120 PMCID: PMC10849517 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.20.576476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) has emerged as a powerful neuromodulation tool characterized by its deep penetration and precise spatial targeting to influence neural activity. Our study directed low-intensity tFUS stimulation onto a region of prefrontal cortex (the frontal eye field, or FEF) of a rhesus macaque to examine its impact on a remote site, the extrastriate visual cortex (area V4). This pair of cortical regions form a top-down modulatory circuit that has been studied extensively with electrical microstimulation. To measure the impact of tFUS stimulation, we recorded local field potentials (LFPs) and multi-unit spiking activities from a multi-electrode array implanted in the visual cortex. To deliver tFUS stimulation, we leveraged a customized 128-element random array ultrasound transducer with improved spatial targeting. We observed that tFUS stimulation in FEF produced modulation of V4 neuronal activity, either through enhancement or suppression, dependent on the pulse repetition frequency of the tFUS stimulation. Electronically steering the transcranial ultrasound focus through the targeted FEF cortical region produced changes in the level of modulation, indicating that the tFUS stimulation was spatially targeted within FEF. Modulation of V4 activity was confined to specific frequency bands, and this modulation was dependent on the presence or absence of a visual stimulus during tFUS stimulation. A control study targeting the insula produced no effect, emphasizing the region-specific nature of tFUS neuromodulation. Our findings shed light on the capacity of tFUS to modulate specific neural pathways and provide a comprehensive understanding of its potential applications for neuromodulation within brain networks.
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