Low intensity focused ultrasound modulation of neural circuits activity

Ultrasoundneuromodulation (UNMOD) has gained popularity as a new state-of-the-art technique for the research and treatment of neurological and psychiatric illnesses. Ultrasounds (US) can be transmitted in a non-invasivemannerto deep-brain regions with a focus of a few millimeters in size. In this review, we perform an analysis of literature describing the mechanical effects underlying focused ultrasound stimulation (FUS)and theireffective modulation of neural functions. We also review distinct stimulation parameters, experimental set-ups and protocolsto better understand the current limits and challenges of this techniqueThis work and FM were funded bythe Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (Portugal) (Contract grant number: P-139977; project “Better mental health during ageing based on temporal prediction of individual brain ageing trajectories (TEMPO)”), and co-financed by the Portuguese North Regional Operational Program (ON.2 –O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER