Non-invasive neuromodulation using low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound in the human brain

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The requested equipment is to allow the applicants to establish a novel research program that uses a technique called low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFUS) to change brain activities through the scalp without the needed for brain surgery in human. LIFUS is a new and potentially powerful method to the change activities of the human brain. The instrument requested include two transducers that will deliver the focused ultrasound together with necessary equipment including amplifiers to control and deliver the ultrasound. The second instrument is a set up to accurately measure the force generated by the focused ultrasound transducer. The force produced by ultrasound will be measured with a special device in a water tank through a human skull to determine how the skull changes the ultrasound force. This will allow the investigators to determine the best setting to stimulate the brain, particularly for deep brain areas. It will also ensure that the stimulation settings are safe. The third piece of equipment is special headcaps that allow the investigators to measure brain electric activities known as electroencephalogram (EEG) while delivering ultrasound. This will allow the investigators to precisely determine how brain activities and connections between brain regions are affected by the focused ultrasound. ******The equipment is essential to establish a new research program in LIFUS. The research will find the best setting of LIFUS to change brain activities during delivery of ultrasound and to induce long-term changes after ultrasound was delivered, determine how LIFUS works in the brain and how it changes the connection of one brain region to the rest of the brain. This will be the first series of studies that systematically examines and refine the use of LIFUS to change brain activities. It will open up an entire new field and will lead to the adoption of LIFUS as a technology to understand how the brain works, and to change brain functions and connections.******The investigators, Dr. Chen and Dr. Lozano, have long-standing collaborations. Dr. Chen is a well established researcher on how the brain controls movements and is an expert in using a method known as magnetic brain stimulation to activate the brain. Dr. Lozano is a well-known neurosurgeon and pioneer in the field of deep brain stimulation. Both Dr. Chen and Dr. Lozano have published extensively. The new research program will provide excellent training for undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. The cutting edge research skills they acquire will position these trainees very well for a future research career in academia or in the industry related to technology development.*****