FOCUSED ULTRASOUND-INDUCED SUPPRESSION OF AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIALS IN VIVO

The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of focused ultrasound-based neuromodulation affecting auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in animals. Focused ultrasound-induced suppression of AEPs was performed in 22 rats and 5 pigs: Repetitive sounds were produced, and the induced AEPs were recorded before and repeatedly after FUS treatment of the auditory pathway. All treated animals exhibited a decrease in AEP amplitude post-treatment in contrast to animals undergoing the sham treatment. Suppression was weaker for rats treated at 2.3 W/cm(2) (amplitudes decreased to 59.8 +/- 3.3% of baseline) than rats treated at 4.6 W/cm(2) (36.9 +/- 7.5%, p < 0.001). Amplitudes of the treated pigs decreased to 27.7 +/- 5.9% of baseline. This effect lasted between 30 min and 1 mo in most treated animals. No evidence of heating during treatment or later brain damage/edema was observed. These results demonstrate the feasibility of inducing significant neuromodulation with non-thermal, non-invasive, reversible focused ultrasound. The long recovery times may have clinical implications. (E-mail: dianne.daniels@sheba.health.gov.il) (c) 2018 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. All rights reserved.