Seung-Schik Yoo, PhD, of Harvard Medical School and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in Korea, and his colleagues have been pioneering the use of focused ultrasound in the neuromodulation of brain function, a pulse-mode approach they believe holds great therapeutic potential.
In the August 10, 2012 issue of the International Journal of Imaging Systems and Technology, they describe the mechanical and MR-based calibration techniques they have developed to define the local coordinates of a sonication focal point. The researchers used the method to apply pulse-mode focused ultrasound in preclinical studies and successfully stimulated the motor cortex. They believe the techniques are readily adaptable for the transcranial application of focused ultrasound to the intact human brain.
Yoo’s study co-authors are Hyungmin Kim, PhD of Harvard Medical School and Korea University; Alan Chiu of Harvard Medical School; and Shinsuk Park, PhD of Korea University.