Focused Ultrasound Modulates Region-specific Brain Activity

Overview

Journal Neuroimage

Specialty Radiology

Date 2011 Mar 1

PMID 21354315

Citations 233

Authors

Seung-Schik Yoo

Alexander Bystritsky

Jong-Hwan Lee

Yongzhi Zhang

Krisztina Fischer

Byoung-Kyong Min

Nathan J McDannold

Alvaro Pascual-Leone

Ferenc A Jolesz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We demonstrated the in vivo feasibility of using focused ultrasound (FUS) to transiently modulate (through either stimulation or suppression) the function of regional brain tissue in rabbits. FUS was delivered in a train of pulses at low acoustic energy, far below the cavitation threshold, to the animal's somatomotor and visual areas, as guided by anatomical and functional information from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The temporary alterations in the brain function affected by the sonication were characterized by both electrophysiological recordings and functional brain mapping achieved through the use of functional MRI (fMRI). The modulatory effects were bimodal, whereby the brain activity could either be stimulated or selectively suppressed. Histological analysis of the excised brain tissue after the sonication demonstrated that the FUS did not elicit any tissue damages. Unlike transcranial magnetic stimulation, FUS can be applied to deep structures in the brain with greater spatial precision. Transient modulation of brain function using image-guided and anatomically-targeted FUS would enable the investigation of functional connectivity between brain regions and will eventually lead to a better understanding of localized brain functions. It is anticipated that the use of this technology will have an impact on brain research and may offer novel therapeutic interventions in various neurological conditions and psychiatric disorders.

Citing Articles

Integrated Ultrasound Neuromodulation and Optical Neuroimaging in Awake Mice using a Transparent Ultrasound Transducer Cranial Window.

Mirg S, Samanta K, Chen H, Jiang J, Turner K, Salehi F bioRxiv. 2025; .

PMID: 40060492 PMC: 11888234. DOI: 10.1101/2025.02.19.638722.

Modulating nociception networks: the impact of low-intensity focused ultrasound on thalamocortical connectivity.

Mishra A, Yang P, Manuel T, Newton A, Phipps M, Luo H Brain Commun. 2025; 7(1):fcaf062.

PMID: 40040842 PMC: 11878384. DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaf062.

Diagnostic ultrasound enhances, then reduces, exogenously induced brain activity of mice.

Tan H, Griggs D, Chen L, Culevski K, Floerchinger K, Phutirat A Front Hum Neurosci. 2025; 18:1509432.

PMID: 40007560 PMC: 11850526. DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1509432.

Analgesic effect of simultaneously targeting multiple pain processing brain circuits in an aged humanized mouse model of chronic pain by transcranial focused ultrasound.

Kim M, Yeh C, Yu K, Li Z, Gupta K, He B APL Bioeng. 2025; 9(1):016108.

PMID: 39990925 PMC: 11846022. DOI: 10.1063/5.0236108.

Focused Ultrasound Modulates Dopamine in a Mesolimbic Reward Circuit.

Olaitan G, Ganesana M, Strohman A, Lynch W, Legon W, Venton B J Neurochem. 2025; 169(2):e70001.

PMID: 39902479 PMC: 11791541. DOI: 10.1111/jnc.70001.

References

Rinaldi P, Jones J, Reines F, Price L . Modification by focused ultrasound pulses of electrically evoked responses from an in vitro hippocampal preparation. Brain Res. 1991; 558(1):36-42. DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(91)90711-4. View

Lee W, Garra B . AIUM Technical Bulletin. How to interpret the ultrasound output display standard for higher acoustic output diagnostic ultrasound devices: version 2. J Ultrasound Med. 2004; 23(5):723-6. View

Goss S, Johnston R, Dunn F . Comprehensive compilation of empirical ultrasonic properties of mammalian tissues. J Acoust Soc Am. 1978; 64(2):423-57. DOI: 10.1121/1.382016. View

Duck F . Acoustic saturation and output regulation. Ultrasound Med Biol. 1999; 25(6):1009-18. DOI: 10.1016/s0301-5629(99)00038-1. View

Magee T, Davies A . Auditory phenomena during transcranial Doppler insonation of the basilar artery. J Ultrasound Med. 1993; 12(12):747-50. DOI: 10.7863/jum.1993.12.12.747. View

Wlodarczyk W, Hentschel M, Wust P, Noeske R, Hosten N, Rinneberg H . Comparison of four magnetic resonance methods for mapping small temperature changes. Phys Med Biol. 1999; 44(2):607-24. DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/44/2/022. View

Jolesz F, Hynynen K, McDannold N, Tempany C . MR imaging-controlled focused ultrasound ablation: a noninvasive image-guided surgery. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2005; 13(3):545-60. DOI: 10.1016/j.mric.2005.04.008. View

Yoo S, Park H, Soul J, Mamata H, Park H, Westin C . In vivo visualization of white matter fiber tracts of preterm- and term-infant brains with diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. Invest Radiol. 2005; 40(2):110-5. DOI: 10.1097/01.rli.0000149491.69201.cb. View

Lee J, OLeary H, Park H, Jolesz F, Yoo S . Atlas-based multichannel monitoring of functional MRI signals in real-time: automated approach. Hum Brain Mapp. 2007; 29(2):157-66. PMC: 6871167. DOI: 10.1002/hbm.20377. View

10.

Gavrieli Y, Sherman Y, Ben-Sasson S . Identification of programmed cell death in situ via specific labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation. J Cell Biol. 1992; 119(3):493-501. PMC: 2289665. DOI: 10.1083/jcb.119.3.493. View

11.

Clement G, White P, King R, McDannold N, Hynynen K . A magnetic resonance imaging-compatible, large-scale array for trans-skull ultrasound surgery and therapy. J Ultrasound Med. 2005; 24(8):1117-25. DOI: 10.7863/jum.2005.24.8.1117. View

12.

Hoy K, Fitzgerald P . Brain stimulation in psychiatry and its effects on cognition. Nat Rev Neurol. 2010; 6(5):267-75. DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2010.30. View

13.

Dalecki D . Mechanical bioeffects of ultrasound. Annu Rev Biomed Eng. 2004; 6:229-48. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.bioeng.6.040803.140126. View

14.

White P . Transcranial focused ultrasound surgery. Top Magn Reson Imaging. 2007; 17(3):165-72. DOI: 10.1097/RMR.0b013e31803774a3. View

15.

Morris C, Sigurdson W . Stretch-inactivated ion channels coexist with stretch-activated ion channels. Science. 1989; 243(4892):807-9. DOI: 10.1126/science.2536958. View

16.

Tyler W, Tufail Y, Finsterwald M, Tauchmann M, Olson E, Majestic C . Remote excitation of neuronal circuits using low-intensity, low-frequency ultrasound. PLoS One. 2008; 3(10):e3511. PMC: 2568804. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003511. View

17.

Martin E, Jeanmonod D, Morel A, Zadicario E, Werner B . High-intensity focused ultrasound for noninvasive functional neurosurgery. Ann Neurol. 2009; 66(6):858-61. DOI: 10.1002/ana.21801. View

18.

Fry F, ADES H, FRY W . Production of reversible changes in the central nervous system by ultrasound. Science. 1958; 127(3289):83-4. DOI: 10.1126/science.127.3289.83. View

19.

Tufail Y, Matyushov A, Baldwin N, Tauchmann M, Georges J, Yoshihiro A . Transcranial pulsed ultrasound stimulates intact brain circuits. Neuron. 2010; 66(5):681-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2010.05.008. View

20.

White P, Clement G, Hynynen K . Local frequency dependence in transcranial ultrasound transmission. Phys Med Biol. 2006; 51(9):2293-305. PMC: 1560343. DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/51/9/013. View