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Ultrasonic Neuromodulation Causes Widespread Cortical Activation via an Indirect Auditory Mechanism
Tomokazu Sato1, Mikhail G Shapiro2, Doris Y Tsao3
1Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Neuron
|May 29, 2018
Summary
Focused ultrasound for brain modulation surprisingly activates auditory pathways, not directly at the focus. This indirect auditory mechanism drives movement responses, impacting neuromodulation research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Acoustics
Background:
- Ultrasound neuromodulation is a promising non-invasive technique.
- The precise brain activity patterns induced by ultrasound remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatiotemporal pattern of ultrasound-induced brain activity.
- To understand the mechanism behind ultrasound-evoked responses.
Main Methods:
- Focused ultrasound stimulation in transgenic mice.
- Wide-field optical imaging of calcium signals.
- Comparison with audible sound stimulation and chemical deafening.
Main Results:
- Ultrasound induced cortical activity patterns resembling indirect auditory pathway activation.
- Ultrasound-evoked activity mirrored responses to audible sound.
- Both ultrasound and audible sound elicited startle reflexes, reduced by deafening.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound neuromodulation may act via an indirect auditory pathway.
- This mechanism differs from direct neural modulation at the ultrasound focus.
- Findings necessitate careful consideration for developing ultrasound as a neuromodulation tool.
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