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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
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Whole-Brain 3D Activation and Functional Connectivity Mapping in Mice using Transcranial Functional Ultrasound Imaging
Published on: February 24, 2021
Neural Decoding of Ultrasound-Modulated Pain States via Deep Learning: Insights from Functional Magnetic Resonance
Dawood Khan1, Hafiz Zia Ur Rehman2, Sara Ali3,4
1Department of Allied Health Sciences, Iqra University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals
|July 8, 2026
Summary
Focused ultrasound (FUS) noninvasively modulates brain activity, reducing pain signals by targeting the thalamus. This neuromodulation technique, combined with AI-driven neuroimaging, offers precise control over brain states.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuromodulation
- Artificial Intelligence
Background:
- Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) allows for causal decoding of brain-state dynamics.
- The ventral posterolateral (VPL) nucleus of the thalamus is a key somatosensory relay.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of FUS on thalamocortical pain transmission.
- To decode dynamic pain states using deep learning and fMRI.
- To assess the precision and translational potential of FUS neuromodulation.
Main Methods:
- Deep learning (3D convolutional neural network) applied to fMRI data from nonhuman primates.
- Thermal pain stimulation combined with transcranial FUS targeting the VPL nucleus.
- Classification of three conditions: Heat, Heat + FUS, and FUS-only.
Main Results:
- Deep learning model achieved high accuracy (92.2% binary, 91.2% multiclass) in classifying conditions.
- Saliency mapping showed cortical suppression in S2 and insula, with preserved VPL thalamic relevance.
- FUS attenuated thalamocortical pain transmission while maintaining subcortical relay integrity.
Conclusions:
- FUS is an effective neuromodulation strategy for attenuating pain transmission.
- AI-driven neuroimaging is valuable for decoding dynamic pain states.
- FUS shows translational potential as a targeted, reversible neuromodulation approach.
