Ultrasound Produces Extensive Brain Activation via a Cochlear Pathway

Abstract

Ultrasound (US) can noninvasively activate intact brain circuits, making it a promising neuromodulation technique. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism. Here, we apply transcranial US and perform brain mapping studies in guinea pigs using extracellular electrophysiology. We find that US elicits extensive activation across cortical and subcortical brain regions. However, transection of the auditory nerves or removal of cochlear fluids eliminates the US-induced activity, revealing an indirect auditory mechanism for US neural activation. US likely vibrates the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, which is continuous with the fluid in the cochlea via cochlear aqueducts; thus, US can activate the ascending auditory pathways and other non-auditory regions through cross-modal projections. This finding of a cochlear fluid-induced vibration mechanism challenges the idea that US can directly activate neurons in the intact brain, suggesting that future US stimulation studies will need to control for this effect to reach reliable conclusions.