Neural mechanisms of ultrasound-induced enhancement of sensory acuity

项目总结/摘要 大脑皮层中的表征可塑性是大脑反应的一个戏剧性的例子 受伤或训练。一种新兴的恢复和潜在增强感觉的方法涉及 使用非侵入性、经颅定向聚焦超声（FUS）直接影响神经功能。 与其他适用于人类的非侵入性神经调节技术相比，FUS提供了一种可能性， 以上级空间分辨率来调节神经活动，即使是针对大脑深处的目标。 尽管FUS作为一种调制方法具有吸引力，但与翻译相关的技术的许多方面仍然存在。 能力尚不清楚，甚至宏观效应也报告了相互矛盾的结果。为了充分 利用FUS用于人类的康复或增强目的，对行为的影响必须 要有很好的特点和鲁棒性。表征定向刺激向行为刺激的转化 因此，改变需要新的实验方法的组合，用于（1）监测直接神经 靶向刺激在大脑中的作用，以及（2）在相同的环境中监测定量行为读数。 动物 通过利用新的光学工具和行为实验方法，拟议的研究将解决 目前限制FUS神经调节的开发和完善的关键知识差距， 人类由于目标共同连接神经机制与行为，这项工作将代表一个 这是朝着定制感觉调节的潜在变革性前景迈出的重要一步， 治疗或辅助应用。

Project Summary/Abstract Representational plasticity in the cerebral cortex is a dramatic example of the brain’s accommodative response to injury or training. An emerging approach for rehabilitating, and potentially enhancing, sensation involves the use of noninvasive, transcranially-directed focused ultrasound (FUS) to directly affect neural function. Compared with other noninvasive neuromodulation techniques applicable to humans, FUS offers the possibility of modulating neural activity with superior spatial resolution even for targets deep within the brain. Despite the allure of FUS as a modulation approach, many aspects of the technology relevant to translational capability are unclear, and conflicting results have been reported for even macroscopic effects. In order to fully leverage the use of FUS for rehabilitative or augmentative purposes in humans, the impact on behavior must be well characterized and robust. Characterizing the transformation of targeted stimulation to behavioral changes therefore requires a combination of new experimental approaches for (1) monitoring the direct neural effects of targeted stimulation in the brain, and (2) monitoring quantitative behavioral readouts in the same animal. By leveraging novel optical tools and behavioral experimental approaches, the proposed research will address key knowledge gaps that currently limit development and refinement of FUS neuromodulation for use in humans. Because the Aims collectively connect neural mechanisms with behavior, this work would represent a significant step toward the potentially transformative prospect of customized sensory modulation for therapeutic or augmentative applications.