ArticleNeuron2018
Ultrasonic Neuromodulation Causes Widespread Cortical Activation via an Indirect Auditory Mechanism.
Article in Neuron, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 174 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
174 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 332 citations in OpenAlex.
- Transcranial ultrasound stimulation in neuromodulation: a bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2024.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2025Pooled it
- Effect of Low Intensity Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation on Neuromodulation in Animals and Humans: An Updated Systematic Review.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2021Pooled it
- Brain Modulatory Effects by Low-Intensity Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS): A Systematic Review on Both Animal and Human Studies.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2019Pooled it
- Real time and delayed effects of subcortical low intensity focused ultrasound.Scientific reports · 2021Trial
- Modulation of the noradrenergic system using transcranial ultrasonic stimulation targeted to the brainstem locus coeruleus in awake mice.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026Article
- Targeted Mechanogenetics to Modulate Specific Deep Neural Circuits.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound of the Amygdala in Depression and Anxiety: A First-in-Human Active-Controlled Trial.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026Article
- Bayesian-enhanced closed-loop optimization of ultrasound protocols for targeted and precise neuromodulation.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Non-invasive in vivo acoustoelectric neuromodulation and its contribution to ultrasound stimulation.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Focused ultrasound in pediatric neuro-oncology: Current applications and future directions.Neuro-oncology advances · 2026Review
- Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation for Alzheimer's Disease-A Scoping Review.Brain sciences · 2026Review
- Ultrasound Modulation of Visual Circuits in Mice Independent of Auditory Confound.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Imaging of Neurovascular Activity during Motor Responses Evoked by Displacement-guided Focused Ultrasound (DgFUS) Neuromodulation in Mice.Research square · 2026Article
- Experimental evaluation of an integrated focused ultrasound and electroencephalography approach for developing activation-informed neuroimaging.NeuroImage · 2026Article
- An ultrasound-scanning in vivo light source.Nature materials · 2026Article
- Transcranial focused ultrasound induces source localizable cortical activation in resting state humans when applied concurrently with transcranial electric stimulation.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Sono-mechanical nanostructures-enabled sustained precise ultrasound brain stimulation.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Rapid modulation of choice behavior by ultrasound on the human frontal eye fields.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Unlocking a Novel Therapeutic Modality: Low-Intensity Transcranial Ultrasound as a Key to CNS Treatment - A Bibliometric and Systematic Review.Journal of central nervous system disease · 2026Review
- Holographic transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation enhances stimulation efficacy by cooperatively recruiting distributed brain circuits.Nature biomedical engineering · 2026Article
114 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Ultrasound has received widespread attention as an emerging technology for targeted, non-invasive neuromodulation based on its ability to evoke electrophysiological and motor responses in animals. However, little is known about the spatiotemporal pattern of ultrasound-induced brain activity that could drive these responses. Here, we address this question by combining focused ultrasound with wide-field optical imaging of calcium signals in transgenic mice. Surprisingly, we find cortical activity patterns consistent with indirect activation of auditory pathways rather than direct neuromodulation at the ultrasound focus. Ultrasound-induced activity is similar to that evoked by audible sound. Furthermore, both ultrasound and audible sound elicit motor responses consistent with a startle reflex, with both responses reduced by chemical deafening. These findings reveal an indirect auditory mechanism for ultrasound-induced cortical activity and movement requiring careful consideration in future development of ultrasonic neuromodulation as a tool in neuroscience research.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.