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

所要求的设备是允许申请人建立一个新的研究项目，该项目使用一种称为低强度聚焦超声（LIFUS）的技术，通过头皮改变大脑活动，而不需要进行人类大脑手术。 LIFUS是一种新的和潜在的强大的方法来改变人类大脑的活动。所要求的仪器包括两个换能器，将提供聚焦超声以及必要的设备，包括放大器，以控制和提供超声。第二个仪器是用于精确测量聚焦超声换能器产生的力的装置。超声波产生的力将通过人类头骨在水箱中用特殊装置测量，以确定头骨如何改变超声波力。这将使研究人员能够确定刺激大脑的最佳设置，特别是对于大脑深部区域。它还将确保刺激设置是安全的。第三件设备是特殊的头帽，允许研究人员在发送超声波时测量脑电活动，即脑电图（EEG）。这将使研究人员能够精确地确定大脑活动和大脑区域之间的连接如何受到聚焦超声的影响。** 该设备对于在LIFUS建立新的研究项目至关重要。该研究将找到LIFUS的最佳设置，以在超声波传输期间改变大脑活动，并在超声波传输后引起长期变化，确定LIFUS如何在大脑中工作，以及它如何改变一个大脑区域与大脑其他区域的连接。这将是第一个系统地检查和改进使用LIFUS改变大脑活动的系列研究。它将开辟一个全新的领域，并将导致采用LIFUS作为一种了解大脑如何工作并改变大脑功能和连接的技术。*研究人员陈博士和洛萨诺博士有着长期的合作。陈博士是一位成熟的研究大脑如何控制运动的研究人员，并且是使用磁脑刺激方法激活大脑的专家。Lozano博士是著名的神经外科医生，也是脑深部电刺激领域的先驱。陈博士和洛萨诺博士都发表过大量文章。新的研究计划将为本科生和研究生以及博士后研究员提供出色的培训。他们获得的尖端研究技能将使这些学员在学术界或与技术开发相关的行业中的未来研究生涯中处于非常有利的地位。

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.*****