Electroencephalographic Response of Brain Stimulation by Shock Waves From Laser Generated Carbon Nanotube Transducer

Neuromodulation is used to treat neurological disorders. Focused ultrasound can deliver acoustic energy to local regions of the brain, including deep brain structures. In addition, it is possible to induce the activation or inhibition of nerves through parameter adjustments of focused ultrasound. Laser-generated focused ultrasound (LGFUS) has demonstrated a potential use in precise therapeutic ultrasound applications owing to the ability to produce high-pressure, broadband frequency of shock waves with a tight focal spot, resulting in confined acoustic exposure of a small area. However, there have been few studies of neurostimulation using shock waves with pulse durations of several nanoseconds. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of neurostimulation by shock waves generated from a focused Carbon Nanotube (fCNT) transducer. We measured electroencephalographic (EEG) signals in three rat brains before and after shock wave stimulation and compared them in the time and frequency domains. In the time domain, the number of peaks of EEG signals was measured significantly higher after shock wave stimulation than before stimulation in all three rats. The three rats showed differences in three frequency bands: theta(4-7 Hz), alpha(8-12), and 1-30 Hz, before and after shock wave stimulation (p < 0.001). These differences in EEG signals after shock wave stimulation of three rats were confirmed mainly because of shock waves. The stimulation of a rat brain was feasible using shock waves generated by the fCNT transducer. This study provides a basis for the applications of shock waves to brain stimulation for precise targeting.