High-throughput ultrasound neuromodulation in awake and freely behaving rats

Tommaso Di Ianni; Kyle P. Morrison; Brenda Yu; Keith R. Murphy; Luis de Lecea; Raag D. Airan

Brain Stimulation (Nov 2023)

High-throughput ultrasound neuromodulation in awake and freely behaving rats

Tommaso Di Ianni,
Kyle P. Morrison,
Brenda Yu,
Keith R. Murphy,
Luis de Lecea,
Raag D. Airan

Affiliations

Tommaso Di Ianni: Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, 94158, CA, USA; Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, 94158, CA, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, 94158, CA, USA.
Kyle P. Morrison: Sonic Concepts, Inc., Bothell, 98011, WA, USA
Brenda Yu: Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
Keith R. Murphy: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
Luis de Lecea: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
Raag D. Airan: Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16, no. 6
pp. 1743 – 1752

Abstract

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Transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation is a promising potential therapeutic tool for the noninvasive treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the expansive parameter space and difficulties in controlling for peripheral auditory effects make it challenging to identify ultrasound sequences and brain targets that may provide therapeutic efficacy. Careful preclinical investigations in clinically relevant behavioral models are critically needed to identify suitable brain targets and acoustic parameters. However, there is a lack of ultrasound devices allowing for multi-target experimental investigations in awake and unrestrained rodents. We developed a miniaturized 64-element ultrasound array that enables neurointerventional investigations with within-trial active control targets in freely behaving rats. We first characterized the acoustic field with measurements in free water and with transcranial propagation. We then confirmed in vivo that the array can target multiple brain regions via electronic steering, and verified that wearing the device does not cause significant impairments to animal motility. Finally, we demonstrated the performance of our system in a high-throughput neuromodulation experiment, where we found that ultrasound stimulation of the rat central medial thalamus, but not an active control target, promotes arousal and increases locomotor activity.

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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