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Non-Invasive Hybrid Ultrasound Stimulation of Visual Cortex In Vivo
Chen Gong1,2, Runze Li1,2, Gengxi Lu1,2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 27, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a novel non-invasive ultrasound stimulation method to bypass optic nerve damage. This technique successfully elicits visual cortex responses comparable to natural sight, offering hope for vision restoration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Optic nerve damage from diseases like glaucoma causes vision loss.
- Current treatments for optic nerve damage are limited.
- Restoring the visual pathway is a significant challenge in neuroscience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel non-invasive method to restore vision in patients with optic nerve damage.
- To establish a direct connection between visual input and the visual cortex, bypassing the damaged optic nerve.
- To investigate the efficacy of Low-frequency Ring-transducer Ultrasound Stimulation (LRUS) for vision restoration.
Main Methods:
- Developed a non-invasive LRUS model integrating advanced ultrasonic and neurological technologies.
- Utilized enhanced sound field intensity to penetrate the skull and reach the visual cortex.
- Confirmed LRUS-elicited neuronal responses in the visual cortex using real-time electrophysiology and fiber photometry.
Main Results:
- LRUS successfully generated simulated visual signals in the visual cortex.
- Neuronal responses in the visual cortex were comparable to natural light stimulation.
- The visual cortex exhibited a faster response rate to LRUS compared to retinal light stimulation.
Conclusions:
- LRUS presents a promising non-invasive therapeutic strategy for vision restoration in optic nerve injury.
- This ultrasound stimulation approach offers a potential alternative to bypass damaged visual pathways.
- Further research into LRUS could lead to new treatments for blindness caused by optic nerve damage.
