Effects of Low-Intensity Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation on Cortical Functional Network Connections and Epileptic Seizures in a Mouse Model of Epilepsy
Na Pang, Qianqian Wang, Hailin Zhang, Rui Su, Jiaqing Yan, Yi Yuan
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering 2026 · 10.1109/tnsre.2026.3664698
Abstract
Exploration of the epilepsy cortical network is helpful for understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of epilepsy and optimizing the treatment direction of epilepsy. Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS), characterized by non-invasiveness, high penetration depth, and high spatial resolution, has the potential to modulate brain functional networks. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms by which TUS influences the cortical network in awake epilepsy model mice remain inadequately understood. Here, we observed that TUS significantly decreased the power of the whole cerebral cortex, diminished the phase lag index functional connectivity strength of the whole cerebral cortex, reduced the strength of cortical network connections, and accelerated the transition process from the epileptic seizure state to the normal state. Taken together, these findings indicated that epileptic seizures were suppressed after TUS modulated cortical functional network connections in mice.
Abstract via europepmc.
Exposures
Exposure 1: hippocampal TUS
Target: hippocampus — “hippocampus”
Device: Olympus / Panametrics · Olympus, USA · V302-SU ✓
| Waveform | pulsed | |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental frequency (kHz) | 1,000 | ✓✓✓ |
| Pulse duration (ms) | not reportedimplied by duty cycle ÷ PRF: 1 ms (not stated by the paper) | ⚑ |
| Pulse repetition frequency (Hz) | 500 | ✓✓✓ |
| Duty cycle (%) | 50 | ✓✓✓ |
| Sonication duration (s) | 900 | ✓✓✓⚑ |
| Free-field pressure (kPa) | not reported | |
|---|---|---|
| Free-field Isppa (W/cm²) | not reported | |
| Free-field Ispta (W/cm²) | not reported | |
| In-situ estimate | not reported | |
| In-situ pressure (kPa) | not reported | |
| In-situ Isppa (W/cm²) | not reported | |
| In-situ Ispta (W/cm²) | not reported | |
| Pressure, domain unspecified (kPa) | 330 | ✓✓✓⚑ |
Fundamental frequency 1 MHz, PRF 500 Hz, duty cycle 50%, total intervention duration 15 min, acoustic pressure 0.33 MPa, delivered to awake mice 40 min after the pre-TUS baseline period.
Flags from extraction
exposures[0].unspecified_domain.pressure_kpa— 0.33 MPa acoustic pressure given without stating the domainexposures[0].timing.pulse_duration_ms— Pulse duration not statedexposures[0].timing.sonication_duration_s— 15 min is the total intervention duration; whether it is continuous pulsed sonication is not detailedsham_type— Sham: collimator did not touch the skull so waves propagated parallel to the skull; classed as aimed away