Guest Seminar - Ultrasound Neuromodulation and Sonogenetics

Noninvasive and accurate control of neuronal activity in deep brain is critical for probing brain function and treating brain dysfunctions. Transcranial low-intensity ultrasound is a promising neuromodulation modality, with the advantages of non-invasiveness, deep penetration and high spatiotemporal accuracy. However, the underlying mechanism of ultrasound neuromodulation remains largely unclear and controversial, hindering the development of efficacious treatments. In this talk, the current understanding of the mechanism of transcranial ultrasound, especially the role of mechanosensitive proteins, will be discussed, as well as the common research methodologies and possible complications. In addition, sonogenetics, analogous to optogenetics combining the targeted expression of mechanosensitive cellular machinery and precise delivery of ultrasound, has been shown to enable non-invasive stimulation with high spatiotemporal resolution and accurate deep-brain targeting through cell-type-specific gene expression, and could potentially be translated to application in large mammals, and possibly even humans. In this talk, we will summarize recent findings on sonogenetics to highlight technical hurdles that have been cleared, challenges that remain, and future directions for optimization.