Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Brain Stimul. 2023 Sep-Oct;16(5):1430-1444. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.09.013. Epub 2023 Sep 21.
BACKGROUND: MRI-guided transcranial focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) as a next-generation neuromodulation tool can precisely target and stimulate deep brain regions with high spatial selectivity. Combined with MR-ARFI (acoustic radiation force imaging) and using fMRI BOLD signal as functional readouts, our previous studies have shown that low-intensity FUS can excite or suppress neural activity in the somatosensory cortex. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether low-intensity FUS can suppress nociceptive heat stimulation-induced responses in thalamic nuclei during hand stimulation, and to determine how this suppression influences the information processing flow within nociception networks. FINDINGS: BOLD fMRI activations evoked by 47.5 °C heat stimulation of hand were detected in 24 cortical regions, which belong to sensory, affective, and cognitive nociceptive networks. Concurrent delivery of low-intensity FUS pulses (650 kHz, 550 kPa) to the predefined heat nociceptive stimulus-responsive thalamic centromedial_parafascicular (CM_para), mediodorsal (MD), ventral_lateral (VL_ and ventral_lateral_posteroventral (VLpv) nuclei suppressed their heat responses. Off-target cortical areas exhibited reduced, enhanced, or no significant fMRI signal changes, depending on the specific areas. Differentiable thalamocortical information flow during the processing of nociceptive heat input was observed, as indicated by the time to reach 10% or 30% of the heat-evoked BOLD signal peak. Suppression of thalamic heat responses significantly altered nociceptive processing flow and direction between the thalamus and cortical areas. Modulation of contralateral versus ipsilateral areas by unilateral thalamic activity differed. Signals detected in high-order cortical areas, such as dorsal frontal (DFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal (vlPFC) cortices, exhibited faster response latencies than sensory areas. CONCLUSIONS: The concurrent delivery of FUS suppressed nociceptive heat response in thalamic nuclei and disrupted the nociceptive network. This study offers new insights into the causal functional connections within the thalamocortical networks and demonstrates the modulatory effects of low-intensity FUS on nociceptive information processing.
背景:作为一种新一代的神经调控工具,磁共振引导经颅聚焦超声(MRgFUS)可以精确地靶向和刺激具有高空间选择性的深部脑区。结合磁共振-ARFI(声辐射力成像)并使用 fMRI BOLD 信号作为功能读出,我们之前的研究表明,低强度的 FUS 可以兴奋或抑制躯体感觉皮层中的神经活动。 目的:研究低强度 FUS 是否可以抑制手部刺激时痛觉热刺激引起的丘脑核团反应,并确定这种抑制如何影响痛觉网络内的信息处理流程。 发现:在手的 47.5°C 热刺激下,检测到 24 个皮质区域的 BOLD fMRI 激活,这些区域属于感觉、情感和认知痛觉网络。同时给予低强度 FUS 脉冲(650 kHz,550 kPa)到预先设定的热伤害性刺激反应性丘脑中央中旁(CM_para)、中背(MD)、腹外侧(VL_和腹外侧后腹(VLpv)核团,抑制其热反应。非靶区皮质区的 fMRI 信号变化表现为减少、增强或无明显变化,这取决于特定区域。观察到痛觉热输入处理过程中的可区分的丘脑皮质信息流,表现在达到热诱发 BOLD 信号峰值的 10%或 30%的时间。丘脑热反应的抑制显著改变了丘脑和皮质区之间的痛觉处理流和方向。单侧丘脑活动对同侧和对侧区域的调制不同。在背侧额(DFC)和腹侧前额(vlPFC)皮质等高阶皮质区检测到的信号表现出比感觉区更快的反应潜伏期。 结论:FUS 的同时给药抑制了丘脑核团的伤害性热反应,并破坏了伤害性网络。本研究提供了关于丘脑皮质网络内因果功能连接的新见解,并证明了低强度 FUS 对伤害性信息处理的调制作用。
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