Several neuromodulation (i.e. deep brain stimulation; DBS) techniques have received great attention due to their therapeutic utility in the management of many neurological/psychiatric diseases and disorders such as Parkinson’s, coma, epilepsy, stroke, depression, schizophrenia, addiction, neurogenic pain, cognitive/memory dysfunction and many others. Further, the field of neural control has recently been ignited by experiments demonstrating the optical control of individual neurons in intact brain circuits using light-gated ion channels and transporters. Despite the promise of vagal nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and DBS, several concerns regarding their therapeutic applications can be raised, including their relatively invasive nature, which often requires the surgical implantation of stimulating electrodes. Although offering the greatest spatial and temporal control, light-gated ion channels require the introduction of exogenous genes.

 

Using a variety of optical probes, we are developing methods for modulating ion channel activity, neuronal activity, and synaptic transmission using low-intensity, low-frequency ultrasound (LILFU), which is capable of noninvsively penetrating the skull in a focused manner. Our approach enables us to quickly screen specific transducers and/or stimulus waveform characteristics, which modulate neuronal activity more or less efficiently. To date, we have identified several waveforms capable of directly modulating the activity of voltage-gated ion channels and synaptic transmission. The use of ultrasound waves to modulate neuronal activity will be of great interest to the basic and clinical neuroscience communities since it may alleviate the need for surgically implanted electrodes.