Abstract
Tools that facilitate the targeted modulation of neural activity are tremendously valuable forneuroscience research. Such methods allow researchers to untangle the complex
relationships between brain activity, cognition and behaviour, and provide valuable
alternative therapeutic strategies. Numerous approaches have been developed over the
years including a number of techniques that fall under the umbrella of non-invasive brain
stimulation (NIBS). In contrast to many other approaches, these methods allow researchers
to modulate brain activity in a non-invasive manner, vastly increasing the scope for
application in research and medicine. Nevertheless, existing techniques suffer from issues
of spatial focality and penetration depth limiting the extent to which specific brain regions
can be targeted.
Transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS) represents a novel method with the
potential to revolutionise the NIBS field. tFUS relies on the capacity of ultrasound waves to
modulate neuronal activity. Crucially, ultrasound can be focused through skull to target
practically any brain region with unparalleled spatial precision. Importantly, however, the
cellular and molecular mechanisms by which ultrasound modulates neuronal function are
poorly understood, limiting the extent to which stimulation protocols can be designed to elicit
specific, predictable effects on brain function.
The principal aim of this work is to help address this issue and advance the understanding
of how ultrasound modulates neuronal activity at the cellular and molecular levels. The
studies presented here aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which ultrasound stimulation
induces sustained changes to neuronal function by investigating the impacts of stimulation
on neuronal plasticity mechanisms within different model systems. The results demonstrate
that ultrasound stimulation can induce durable changes to the excitability of individual
neurons, modulate synaptic transmission within neuronal networks, and shape subsequent
plasticity expression. By providing new insights into the fundamental mechanisms, this work
helps to advance the development and future applications of this exciting new technique.
| Date of Award | 1 Oct 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Daniel Whitcomb (Supervisor) & Bruce W Drinkwater (Supervisor) |