'Sonogenetics' Allow Researchers, to Control Brain Cells, in Animals Using Ultrasound.
A team of scientists at the San Diego
Salk Institute have stimulated the
brain cells of mice using ultrasound. .
Freethink.com reports that researchers were able to use ultrasound to move the limbs of mice. .
Freethink.com reports that researchers were able to use ultrasound to move the limbs of mice. .
The technique, known as "sonogenetics," is one of several new methods to stimulate and alter neurons in the brain directly without the use of drugs. .
The technique, known as "sonogenetics," is one of several new methods to stimulate and alter neurons in the brain directly without the use of drugs. .
We’ve spent so much time over the last
few decades focusing on pharmacologic
therapies. This paper is another really
important piece to this puzzle
of developing neural circuit-based
therapeutics for disease, Colleen Hanlon, Biologist at Wake Forest, via Freethink.com.
Freethink reports that ultrasound is an appealing
option for scientists as it already has a well-understood
safety profile and is already widely in use. .
Freethink reports that ultrasound is an appealing
option for scientists as it already has a well-understood
safety profile and is already widely in use. .
Ultrasound is safe, noninvasive,
and can be easily focused through
thin bone and tissue to volumes
of a few cubic millimeters, Salk Institute Team, via Freethink.com.
According to Freethink,
the research may eventually be applied
to a number of therapies and treatments.
The potential for neuronal control
is huge. It has applications for
pacemakers, insulin pumps,
and other therapies that
we’re not even thinking about, Sreekanth Chalasani, Salk Institute neuroscientist,
via Freethink.com.
The team at the Salk Institute is now working on
making the ultrasound response stronger and tweaking
the technology on its way to clinical application.