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，而不需要对人类进行脑部手术。LIFUS是改变人类大脑活动的一种新的、潜在的强大方法。所要求的仪器包括两个换能器，用于传递聚焦超声，以及必要的设备，包括控制和传递超声的放大器。第二个仪器是用来精确测量聚焦超声换能器产生的力的。超声波产生的力将通过水箱中的一个特殊装置通过人的头骨来测量，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环境，特别是对大脑深部区域的刺激。它还将确保刺激设置是安全的。第三件设备是一种特殊的头套，它可以让研究人员在传送超声波的同时测量被称为脑电图（EEG）的脑电活动。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联系是如何受到聚焦超声的影响的。******该设备对于建立LIFUS的新研究计划至关重要。研究将找到LIFUS在超声传递过程中改变大脑活动的最佳设置，并在超声传递后诱导长期变化，确定LIFUS在大脑中的工作方式，以及它如何改变大脑一个区域与其他大脑区域的连接。这将是第一个系统地检查和完善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作为一种技术来了解大脑是如何工作的，并改变大脑的功能和连接。******研究人员陈博士和洛萨诺博士有着长期的合作关系。陈博士在大脑如何控制运动方面是一位知名的研究者，也是使用一种被称为脑磁刺激的方法来激活大脑的专家。Lozano博士是一位著名的神经外科医生，也是深部脑刺激领域的先驱。陈博士和洛萨诺博士都发表了大量论文。新的研究项目将为本科生、研究生和博士后提供优秀的培训。他们获得的尖端研究技能将使这些学员在未来的学术研究生涯或与技术开发相关的行业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.*****