Ultrasound system for precise neuromodulation of human deep brain circuits

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique.
• Precise targeting of deep brain structures remains a challenge for current neuromodulation methods.
• Real-time monitoring is crucial for validating the efficacy and specificity of neuromodulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate an advanced TUS system for precise deep brain neuromodulation.
• To investigate the system's ability to selectively modulate specific brain regions, such as the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN).
• To assess the neuromodulatory effects on visual cortex activity and their reproducibility.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 256-element, 555 kHz helmet-shaped transducer array for TUS.
• Integration of stereotactic positioning, individualized treatment planning, and real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) monitoring.
• Application of a theta-burst TUS protocol targeting the LGN and concurrent visual stimulation.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated selective modulation of the LGN and connected visual cortex regions.
• Observed significant increases in visual cortex activity during concurrent TUS and visual stimulation, with high cross-individual reproducibility.
• Confirmed robust, specific, and sustained neuromodulatory effects (decreased visual cortex activity for over 40 min) following theta-burst TUS targeting the LGN.

Conclusions:

• The advanced TUS system enables non-invasive modulation of deep brain circuits with high precision and specificity.
• This technology offers novel opportunities for studying brain function and developing targeted therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
• The findings highlight the transformative potential of this system for both research and clinical applications in neuromodulation.