A Review of Ultrasound Neuromodulation Technologies

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Acoustics

Background:

• Surgical neuromodulation methods face limitations due to invasiveness.
• Non-invasive alternatives are crucial for advancing neuromodulation therapies.
• Low-intensity ultrasound offers precise deep-tissue neural stimulation.

Approach:

• This article reviews fundamental ultrasound principles.
• It examines successful transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS) experiments in animals and humans.
• The review discusses available tFUS technologies for beam generation, focusing, and steering.

Key Points:

• Phased array technologies are central to tFUS, encompassing transducer array design, fabrication, and integration.
• Advanced electronics, including beamformers and high-voltage drivers, are essential for tFUS systems.
• tFUS research is exploring various sonication frequencies, particularly sub-MHz due to the skull's presence.

Conclusions:

• tFUS presents a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique.
• Further research is needed to address challenges like understanding mechanisms, managing auditory responses, and overcoming skull aberrations.
• Continued development of tFUS technology could significantly expand neuromodulation's clinical reach.