Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: From Brain to Behaviors

ABSTRACT

Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is an emerging technology that enables noninvasive modulation of neuronal activity with unprecedented precision through focused ultrasound waves. Despite its promising applications, our comprehension of the in-vivo neural mechanisms underlying this novel neuromodulation technology remains in its early stages. Our research endeavors in the lab aim to bridge this knowledge gap, extending from rodent to nonhuman primate models and humans. In my presentation, I will introduce some pivotal contributions made by our lab toward understanding the changes of in-vivo neuronal responses, inter-neuronal correlations, and brain network modulations elicited by tFUS stimulation. I will showcase our intracranial electrophysiological recordings from rodent and monkey models, revealing nuanced brain responses to specific stimulation parameters. Furthermore, we have translated tFUS devices and methodologies for the noninvasive modulation of human motor, somatosensory, and visual systems, measured through electroencephalography (EEG)-based source imaging with improved spatial specificity. Beyond influencing specific brain functions, I will also present our ongoing investigations into tFUS applications for modulating pain-related behaviors in a humanized sickle cell mouse model and for improving visual-motion responses and human cognitive attention in a brain-computer interface among a group of healthy human participants. These studies not only underscore the versatility of tFUS in neuromodulation but also highlight its therapeutic potential across domains of neurological function and behavior.

BIOGRAPHY

Kai Yu received his B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Zhejiang University in 2009 and 2012, respectively. He received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2018. He completed post-doctoral training in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in one year and has been a Research Scientist and special faculty there since 2019. Dr. Yu has made original contributions to the field of transcranial-focused ultrasound neuromodulation, functional biomedical imaging, and neuro-engineering. His research works were published by Nature Communications, Blood, Advanced Functional Materials, Brain Stimulation, IEEE TMI, IEEE TBME, Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, Journal of Neural Engineering, and among others. He has been a co-investigator in three major NIH BRAIN Initiative and HEAL Initiative grants. He was a Gold Medalist at the 40th International Exhibition of Inventions, Geneva, Switzerland. He received the NIH Blueprint MedTech Seedling Award, the IEEE Brain Initiative Neurotech Entrepreneurs’ Award, and was also the recipient of the Best Innovation Award and the champion of the 2nd NXP Cup Innovation Design Competition.