Ultrasound modulation of neural activity in leech and zebrafish

Ultrasound (US) has received widespread attention as an emerging technology for non-invasive targeted neuromodulation alternative to electrical based approaches. However, little is known about the fundamental mechanism(s) by which US can excite/inhibit neurons as well as the spatiotemporal pattern of ultrasound-induced central nervous system (CNS) activity. In order to address these scientific questions, I have analyzed the data of two different experiments, both using low intensity US stimulation, at two different levels of granularity. The former consists in the analysis of individual neuron response, through intracellular electrodes, of ex-vivo N cell medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis). The latter concerns an in vivo exploration of the spatiotemporal patterns of the CNS obtained employing wide-field optical imaging of calcium signals in transgenic larval stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio)