Disrupting nociceptive information processing flow through transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation of thalamic nuclei

Arabinda Mishra; Pai-Feng Yang; Thomas J. Manuel; Allen T. Newton; M. Anthony Phipps; Huiwen Luo; Michelle K. Sigona; Jamie L. Reed; John C. Gore; William A. Grissom; Charles F. Caskey; Li Min Chen

Brain Stimulation (Sep 2023)

Disrupting nociceptive information processing flow through transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation of thalamic nuclei

Arabinda Mishra,
Pai-Feng Yang,
Thomas J. Manuel,
Allen T. Newton,
M. Anthony Phipps,
Huiwen Luo,
Michelle K. Sigona,
Jamie L. Reed,
John C. Gore,
William A. Grissom,
Charles F. Caskey,
Li Min Chen

Affiliations

Arabinda Mishra: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
Pai-Feng Yang: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
Thomas J. Manuel: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
Allen T. Newton: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
M. Anthony Phipps: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
Huiwen Luo: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
Michelle K. Sigona: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
Jamie L. Reed: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
John C. Gore: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
William A. Grissom: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
Charles F. Caskey: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
Li Min Chen: Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, AA 1105 MCN 1161 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37232, USA.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16, no. 5
pp. 1430 – 1444

Abstract

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Background: MRI-guided transcranial focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) as a next-generation neuromodulation tool can precisely target and stimulate deep brain regions with high spatial selectivity. Combined with MR-ARFI (acoustic radiation force imaging) and using fMRI BOLD signal as functional readouts, our previous studies have shown that low-intensity FUS can excite or suppress neural activity in the somatosensory cortex. Objective: To investigate whether low-intensity FUS can suppress nociceptive heat stimulation-induced responses in thalamic nuclei during hand stimulation, and to determine how this suppression influences the information processing flow within nociception networks. Findings: BOLD fMRI activations evoked by 47.5 °C heat stimulation of hand were detected in 24 cortical regions, which belong to sensory, affective, and cognitive nociceptive networks. Concurrent delivery of low-intensity FUS pulses (650 kHz, 550 kPa) to the predefined heat nociceptive stimulus-responsive thalamic centromedial_parafascicular (CM_para), mediodorsal (MD), ventral_lateral (VL_ and ventral_lateral_posteroventral (VLpv) nuclei suppressed their heat responses. Off-target cortical areas exhibited reduced, enhanced, or no significant fMRI signal changes, depending on the specific areas. Differentiable thalamocortical information flow during the processing of nociceptive heat input was observed, as indicated by the time to reach 10% or 30% of the heat-evoked BOLD signal peak. Suppression of thalamic heat responses significantly altered nociceptive processing flow and direction between the thalamus and cortical areas. Modulation of contralateral versus ipsilateral areas by unilateral thalamic activity differed. Signals detected in high-order cortical areas, such as dorsal frontal (DFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal (vlPFC) cortices, exhibited faster response latencies than sensory areas. Conclusions: The concurrent delivery of FUS suppressed nociceptive heat response in thalamic nuclei and disrupted the nociceptive network. This study offers new insights into the causal functional connections within the thalamocortical networks and demonstrates the modulatory effects of low-intensity FUS on nociceptive information processing.

Published in Brain Stimulation

ISSN: 1935-861X (Print); 1876-4754 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/brain-stimulation

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