Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Neuronal Plasticity Working Group, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Braunschweig, Bundesallee 100, 38116, Braunschweig, Germany.
Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 12;11(1):5814. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83527-z.
Ultrasound-(US) emitting sources are highly present in modern human environments (e.g., movement sensors, electric transformers). US affecting humans or even posing a health hazard remains understudied. Hence, ultrasonic (22.4 kHz) vs. sham devices were installed in participants' bedrooms, and active for 28 nights. Somatic and psychiatric symptoms, sound-sensitivity, sleep quality, executive function, and structural MRI were assessed pre-post. Somatization (possible nocebo) and phasic alertness increased significantly in sham, accuracy in a flexibility task decreased significantly in the verum condition (indicating hastier responses). Effects were not sustained after p-level adjustment. Exploratory voxel-based morphometry (VBM) revealed regional grey matter (rGMV) but no regional white matter volume changes in verum (relative to placebo). rGMV increased in bilateral cerebellum VIIb/Crus II and anterior cingulate (BA24). There were rGMV decreases in two bilateral frontal clusters: in the middle frontal gyri/opercular part of inferior frontal gyrus (BA46, 44), and the superior frontal gyri (BA4 ,6, 8). No brain-behavior-links were identified. Given the overall pattern of results, it is suggested that ultrasound may particularly induce regional gray matter decline in frontal areas, however with yet unclear behavioral consequences. Given the localization of clusters, candidate behavioral variables for follow-up investigation are complex motor control/coordination, stress regulation, speech processing, and inhibition tasks.Trial registration: The trial was registered at NIH www.clinicaltrials.gov , trial identifier: NCT03459183, trial name: SonicBrain01, full trial protocol available here: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03459183 .
超声（US）发射源在现代人类环境中高度存在（例如，运动传感器、电力变压器）。超声对人体的影响，甚至是否构成健康危害，仍有待研究。因此，将超声（22.4 kHz）与假设备安装在参与者的卧室中，并持续 28 晚。在前后评估躯体和精神症状、声音敏感性、睡眠质量、执行功能和结构 MRI。在假设备组中，躯体化（可能是安慰剂反作用）和相位警觉性显著增加，在真设备组中，灵活性任务的准确性显著降低（表明反应更快）。在调整 p 值后，这些影响没有持续。探索性基于体素的形态计量学（VBM）显示真设备（相对于安慰剂）时小脑 VIIb/Crus II 和前扣带皮质（BA24）的灰质体积（rGMV）增加，双侧额区存在两个灰质体积减少的簇：在额中回和额下回的眶部（BA46、44），以及额上回（BA4、6、8）。未发现脑-行为相关性。鉴于总体结果模式，建议超声可能特别诱导额区的局部灰质下降，但目前尚不清楚其行为后果。鉴于簇的定位，后续研究的候选行为变量是复杂的运动控制/协调、应激调节、言语处理和抑制任务。试验注册：该试验在 NIH www.clinicaltrials.gov 上注册，试验标识符：NCT03459183，试验名称：SonicBrain01，完整的试验方案可在此处获得：https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03459183。
