A Review of Low-Intensity Transcranial Focused Ultrasound for Clinical Applications

The field of therapeutic focused ultrasound neuromodulation has made great advances in the last few years. While no clinical trials of focused ultrasound neuromodulation are yet underway, several human experiments have recently been conducted. There are many potential uses of this new technology, including treatment of numerous psychiatric and neurologic disorders, as well as a brainmapping tool for discoveries in basic science. In this review, we examine recent research data on the use of focused ultrasound in neuronal tissue, animal models, and humans. We also investigate ideal parameters for neuromodulation as well as potential mechanisms.

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