Low-Intensity Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation Improves Motor Behavior and Modulates Cortical Functional Network Connectivity in Mice with Ischemic Stroke
Shaopo Wan, Qianqian Wang, Yanan Wang, Dongyang Huang, Jiaqing Yan, Honglei Jiao, Xiao Zhang, Yi Yuan
The Journal of Neuroscience 2026 · 10.1523/jneurosci.2329-25.2026
Abstract
The recovery of motor function in patients with ischemic stroke is closely related to the plastic remodeling of cortical functional networks. Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) has been shown to improve motor behavior in patients with ischemic stroke and modulate cortical functional networks in healthy individuals. However, whether motor improvement after TUS is associated with cortical functional network reorganization remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we constructed a mouse model of ischemic stroke using male C57BL/6 mice and simultaneously recorded the local field potential and gait behavior data of the whole-brain cortex of mice in a free-walking state before and after ultrasound intervention. Gait parameters, cortical functional network connectivity (CFNC), and topology were systematically analyzed, and the correlations between behavioral indicators and network connectivity were explored. Our findings revealed that TUS significantly improved motor function in the mouse model, modulated CFNC to restore it to a healthy state, enhanced global information integration ability, optimized local separation efficiency, and restored gait phase transition control. Furthermore, the TUS-induced changes in the cortical functional network were positively correlated with behavioral improvement. This study confirmed that motor improvement after low-intensity TUS is accompanied by cortical functional network reorganization and that such reorganization may contribute to post-stroke functional recovery.
Abstract via europepmc.
Exposures
Exposure 1: TUS of infarct area
Target: cerebral cortex — “infarct area”
Device: Olympus / Panametrics · Olympus · V301-SU (nonfocused; driven by TUNSS-1) ✓
| Waveform | pulsed | |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental frequency (kHz) | 1,000 | ✓✓✓ |
| Pulse duration (ms) | 50 | ✓✓✓ |
| Pulse repetition frequency (Hz) | 1 | ✓✓✓ |
| Duty cycle (%) | 5pulse duration × PRF gives 5% | ✓✓✓ |
| Sonication duration (s) | 300 | ✓✓✓ |
| Free-field pressure (kPa) | not reported | |
|---|---|---|
| Free-field Isppa (W/cm²) | not reported | |
| Free-field Ispta (W/cm²) | not reported | |
| In-situ estimate | measurementsingle value | |
| In-situ pressure (kPa) | 186 | ✓✓✓⚑ |
| In-situ Isppa (W/cm²) | 1.15 | ✓✓✓ |
| In-situ Ispta (W/cm²) | 0.057 | ✓✓✓ |
FF 1 MHz; PRF 1 Hz; pulse train duration 5 min; DC 5%; PD 50 ms; interstimulus interval 5 min; stimulation once daily for 15 min, for 7 consecutive days starting on Day 1 after stroke.
Flags from extraction
exposures[0].target.label— Target is described only as the infarct area (distal MCA occlusion, right hemisphere); cortex term chosen by inference from the model.n_subjects— 33 mice in three groups of 11; 11 received TUS (stroke + TUS group).exposures[0].in_situ.pressure_kpa— Pressure measured with a hydrophone behind the skull; the Discussion says ex vivo skull. Isppa and Ispta were calculated by the authors from it.exposures[0].timing.protocol_description— Pulse train 5 min with 5 min ISI within a 15 min daily session; PRF 1 Hz with PD 50 ms gives 5 % as stated.sham_type— Sham stimulation mechanism not described; normal group received no stimulation.exposures[0].device.family— TUNSS-1 is the driving device; transducer maker is Olympus.