Focused ultrasound stimulation for brain research

目前用于研究人脑的非侵入性脑刺激技术存在明显的局限性，阻碍了神经科学家研究局部皮质区域的精确功能、特定类型神经元的作用以及皮质下结构对认知过程的重要贡献。聚焦超声刺激(FUS)是一种新兴的神经调节技术，它比传统的非侵入性脑刺激方法有了显著的改进。它不仅具有高的时间(Ms)和空间分辨率(2x5 Mm)，而且有可能触及大脑深层结构，并可用于特定类别的神经元。这些特征创造了以细胞特有的方式研究整个人类大脑的令人兴奋的机会，这一壮举目前仅限于用于动物实验的侵入性方法。 这项应用的目标是获得加拿大第一个FUS系统和必要的仪器，以测量其对人脑的影响(近红外光谱、经颅磁刺激线圈)。这一基础设施对于实现NSERC资助的研究计划和维持几个已确认用户的生产力至关重要。更准确地说，所要求的基础设施将支持让-弗朗索瓦·利佩奇(神经刺激)、凯文·惠廷斯托(神经成像)和菲利普·米肖(声学)的研究。该设备将作为这些研究人员的汇合点；它将有助于实施合作研究项目，并将对我们在生物成像(医学-工程)领域的新的跨学科研究-培训计划产生重要的结构影响。

Current non-invasive brain stimulation techniques used to study the human brain bear significant limitations, hindering the capacity of neuroscientists to study the precise function of localized cortical areas, the role of specific types of neurons, and the important contribution of subcortical structures to cognitive processes. An emerging neuromodulatory technique, focused ultrasound stimulation (FUS), brings significant improvements over traditional non-invasive brain stimulation methods. Not only does it present high temporal (ms) and spatial resolutions (2X5 mm), it has the potential to reach deep cerebral structures and can be used to target specific classes of neurons. These characteristics create the exciting opportunity to study the whole human brain in a cell-specific manner, a feat that is for the moment exclusive to invasive methods used for animal experimentation. The goal of this application is to acquire the first FUS system in Canada and the necessary instruments to measure its effects on the human brain (near infrared spectroscopy, transcranial magnetic stimulation coils). This infrastructure is crucial for the realization of NSERC funded research programs and to maintain the productivity of several confirmed users. More precisely, the infrastructure requested will support the research of Jean-Francois Lepage (neurostimulation), Kevin Whittingstall (neuroimaging) and Philippe Micheau (acoustics). This equipment will act as the point of convergence for these researchers; it will contribute to the implantation of collaborative research projects, and will have an important structuring impact on our new interdisciplinary research-training programs in bioimaging (Medicine-Engineering).