Brain and Behavior,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
15(2)
Published: Feb. 1, 2025
Abstract
Introduction
Functional
electrical
stimulation
(FES)
is
used
to
retrain
motor
function
in
neurological
disorders
but
typically
requires
multiple
sessions
and
shows
limited
benefits
chronic
cases.
Low‐intensity
transcranial
focused
ultrasound
(TUS)
a
noninvasive
brain
(NIBS)
method
offering
greater
focality
deeper
penetration
than
current
NIBS
techniques.
TUS
delivered
theta
burst
pattern
(tbTUS)
for
80
s
produces
neuroplastic
changes
with
long‐term
potentiation‐like
effects
lasting
up
60
min
healthy
adults.
Since
tbTUS
increases
cortical
excitability,
combining
it
FES
may
enhance
neuroplasticity.
We
hypothesized
that
would
result
increased
corticospinal
excitability
compared
alone
lead
improvement
fine
skills
as
assessed
by
Nine‐Hole
Peg
Test
(NHPT)
scores.
Methods
Fifteen
participants
underwent
two
study
visits
consisting
of
real
or
sham
the
left
cortex
immediately
followed
30
first
dorsal
interosseous
(FDI)
opponens
pollicis
(OP)
muscles
training
right
hand.
Motor‐evoked
potentials
(MEPs)
were
recorded
from
FDI,
OP,
abductor
digiti
minimi
(ADM)
at
baseline
(BL),
after
(T0),
(T45),
15
(T65)
(T80)
post‐FES.
NHPT
was
BL
T80.
Results
Data
14
analyzed.
It
showed
significant
decrease
MEP
amplitudes
FDI
OP
T45
following
only
tbTUS+FES
return
No
seen
scores
either
condition.
Conclusion
Real
combined
voluntary
movement
results
immediate
inhibition
∼20
post‐stimulation
suggestive
homeostatic
metaplasticity.
These
findings
highlight
potential
neuromodulatory
intervention,
warranting
further
exploration
conditions
therapeutic
applications.
Advanced Science,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
10(14)
Published: March 24, 2023
Abstract
Within
the
last
decade,
ultrasound
has
been
“rediscovered”
as
a
technique
for
brain
therapies.
Modern
technologies
allow
focusing
through
human
skull
highly
focal
tissue
ablation,
clinical
neuromodulatory
stimulation,
and
targeted
blood‐brain‐barrier
opening.
This
article
gives
an
overview
on
state‐of‐the‐art
of
most
recent
application:
neuromodulation
new
therapy.
Although
research
centers
have
existed
decades,
first
treatment
were
not
established
until
2020,
applications
are
spreading
rapidly.
Neurotherapeutics,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
21(3), P. e00330 - e00330
Published: Feb. 9, 2024
Over
the
past
30
years,
field
of
neuromodulation
has
witnessed
remarkable
advancements.
These
developments
encompass
a
spectrum
techniques,
both
non-invasive
and
invasive,
that
possess
ability
to
probe
influence
central
nervous
system.
In
many
cases
therapies
have
been
adopted
into
standard
care
treatments.
Transcranial
magnetic
stimulation
(TMS),
transcranial
direct
current
(tDCS),
ultrasound
(TUS)
are
most
common
methods
in
use
today.
Deep
brain
(DBS),
spinal
cord
(SCS),
vagus
nerve
(VNS),
leading
surgical
for
neuromodulation.
Ongoing
active
clinical
trials
using
uncovering
novel
applications
paradigms
these
interventions.
Journal of Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown, P. e1011232023 - e1011232023
Published: Jan. 5, 2024
The
dorsal
anterior
cingulate
cortex
(dACC)
is
a
critical
brain
area
for
pain
and
autonomic
processing,
making
it
promising
non-invasive
therapeutic
target.
We
leverage
the
high
spatial
resolution
deep
focal
lengths
of
low-intensity
focused
ultrasound
(LIFU)
to
non-invasively
modulate
dACC
effects
on
behavioral
cardiac
responses
using
transient
heat
stimuli.
N
=
16
healthy
human
volunteers
(6M/10F)
received
contact
during
either
LIFU
or
Sham
stimulation.
Continuous
electroencephalogram
(EEG),
electrocardiogram
(ECG),
electrodermal
response
(EDR)
were
recorded.
Outcome
measures
included
ratings,
heart-rate
variability,
EDR
response,
blood
pressure,
amplitude
heat-evoked
potential
(CHEP).
reduced
ratings
by
1.09
±
0.20
points
relative
Sham.
increased
heart
rate
variability
indexed
standard
deviation
normal
sinus
beats
(SDNN),
low
frequency
(LF)
power,
low-frequency/high-frequency
(LF/HF)
ratio.
There
no
pressure
EDR.
resulted
in
38.1%
reduction
P2
CHEP
amplitude.
Results
demonstrate
reduces
alters
acute
This
has
implications
causal
understanding
processing
future
options
relief
modulation
homeostatic
signals.
Significance
Statement
New
lines
inquiry
signals
like
(HRV)
are
aberrant
chronic
mental
health
disorders,
which
may
contribute
their
underlying
etiology.
key
center
with
direct
influences
function,
but
its
depth
precludes
access
without
invasive
surgery.
For
first
time
humans,
we
can
selectively
reduce
perception,
responses,
work
further
establishes
role
clinical
applications
neuropsychological
populations.
Journal of Neural Engineering,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
21(1), P. 016033 - 016033
Published: Feb. 1, 2024
Abstract
Objective
:
Transcranial
focused
low-intensity
ultrasound
has
the
potential
to
noninvasively
modulate
confined
regions
deep
inside
human
brain,
which
could
provide
a
new
tool
for
causal
interrogation
of
circuit
function
in
humans.
However,
it
been
unclear
whether
approach
is
potent
enough
behavior.
Approach
To
test
this,
we
applied
brain
thalamic
target,
ventral
intermediate
nucleus,
three
patients
with
essential
tremor.
Main
results
Brief,
15
s
stimulations
target
at
10%
duty
cycle
ultrasound,
repeated
less
than
30
times
over
period
90
min,
nearly
abolished
tremor
(98%
and
97%
amplitude
reduction)
2
out
3
patients.
The
effect
was
observed
within
seconds
stimulation
onset
increased
exposure
time.
gradually
vanished
following
stimulation,
suggesting
that
safe
no
harmful
long-term
consequences
detected.
Significance
This
result
demonstrates
can
robustly
humans
notable
effects
on
overt
motor
Brain stimulation,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
16(4), P. 1135 - 1143
Published: July 1, 2023
Transcranial
ultrasound
stimulation
(TUS)
is
a
novel
non-invasive
brain
technique
with
high
depth
penetrance
and
spatial
resolution.
Theta-burst
TUS
(tbTUS)
plasticity-inducing
protocol
which
increases
motor
cortical
excitability
for
up
to
30
min
following
80s
of
sonication.
While
this
may
have
therapeutic
potential
the
treatment
psychiatric
neurological
disorders,
mechanisms
action
remain
unclear.We
conducted
first
pharmacological
study
examine
in
human
primary
cortex.
By
administering
brain-active
drugs
known
action,
we
aimed
elucidate
tbTUS.Fourteen
healthy
subjects
participated
within-subjects
randomized,
double-blind,
cross-over
five
visits.
At
each
visit,
one
four
(carbamazepine
-
Na+
channel
blocker,
nimodipine
L-type
Ca2+
lorazepam
positive
allosteric
modulator
gamma-aminobutyric
acid
(GABA)
type
A
receptor,
dextromethorphan
N-methyl-d-aspartate
receptor
antagonist)
or
placebo
was
administered
random
order,
followed
by
tbTUS.The
plasticity
effects
tbTUS
on
cortex
measured
motor-evoked
amplitudes
elicited
transcranial
magnetic
were
reduced
all
compared
placebo.tbTUS
induce
NMDA-dependent
synaptic
since
are
blocked
increased
GABAA
activities
voltage-gated
channels
blockers.
These
results
consistent
hypotheses
that
induced
long-term
potentiation-like
involves
activation
mechanosensitive
channels.
Alternatively,
non-specific
pharmacologically
changes
excitatory/inhibitory
balance
might
interfered
tbTUS.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: June 11, 2024
Abstract
A
brain-computer
interface
(BCI)
enables
users
to
control
devices
with
their
minds.
Despite
advancements,
non-invasive
BCIs
still
exhibit
high
error
rates,
prompting
investigation
into
the
potential
reduction
through
concurrent
targeted
neuromodulation.
Transcranial
focused
ultrasound
(tFUS)
is
an
emerging
neuromodulation
technology
spatiotemporal
precision.
This
study
examines
whether
tFUS
can
improve
BCI
outcomes,
and
explores
underlying
mechanism
of
action
using
high-density
electroencephalography
(EEG)
source
imaging
(ESI).
As
a
result,
V5-targeted
significantly
reduced
in
speller
task.
Source
analyses
revealed
increase
theta
alpha
activities
condition
at
both
V5
downstream
dorsal
visual
processing
pathway.
Correlation
analysis
indicated
that
connection
within
pathway
was
preserved
during
stimulation,
while
ventral
weakened.
These
findings
suggest
enhances
feature-based
attention
motion.
Brain stimulation,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
17(4), P. 734 - 751
Published: June 15, 2024
Low-intensity
transcranial
ultrasound
has
surged
forward
as
a
non-invasive
and
disruptive
tool
for
neuromodulation
with
applications
in
basic
neuroscience
research
the
treatment
of
neurological
psychiatric
conditions.
To
provide
comprehensive
overview
update
preclinical
clinical
low
intensity
emphasize
emerging
role
functional
brain
mapping
to
guide,
better
understand,
predict
responses.
A
systematic
review
was
conducted
by
searching
Web
Science
Scopus
databases
studies
on
neuromodulation,
both
humans
animals.
187
relevant
were
identified
reviewed,
including
116
71
reports
subjects
belonging
diverse
cohorts.
Milestones
are
described
within
an
broader
landscape.
General
neural
readouts
outcome
measures
discussed,
potential
confounds
noted,
use
magnetic
resonance
imaging
is
highlighted.
Ultrasound
emerged
powerful
study
treat
range
conditions
its
combination
various
significantly
advanced
this
platform.
In
particular,
yielded
exciting
inferences
into
advance
our
understanding
function,
neuromodulatory
mechanisms,
ultimately
outcomes.
It
anticipated
that
these
trials
first
many;
focused
ultrasound,
particularly
imaging,
enhance
spectrum