Application Cases

Experiment Name: Direct Modulatory Effects of Low-Intensity Ultrasound on Cerebellar Cortex Neural Activity

Research Direction: Ultrasonic Neuromodulation

Experiment Content: This study systematically detected the response patterns of cerebellar neurons to low-intensity ultrasound using a two-photon in vivo calcium imaging system and proposed a novel behavioral detection paradigm for ultrasonic neuromodulation. The study revealed the direct excitatory effects of low-intensity ultrasound on the cerebellar cortex from three aspects: the sustained effects induced by ultrasound, the elimination of neuronal responses under off-target stimulation, and the induction of mouse motor behavior.

Testing Equipment: ATA-L4 underwater acoustic power amplifier, transducer, function signal generator, etc.

Experiment Process: In experiments with ultrasound stimulation durations of less than or equal to 500 ms, to generate high-intensity ultrasound stimulation, a 127 kHz transducer was selected. The transducer's tip has an amplitude rod length of 26 mm and a diameter of 2 mm. The electrical signal driving the transducer is generated by the function signal generator and amplified by the ATA-L4 underwater acoustic power amplifier, which then converts the electrical signal into a mechanical signal via a piezoelectric ceramic.

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of the Experiment on Low-Intensity Ultrasound Effects on Cerebellar Cortex Neural Activity

Experimental Results: Quantitative analysis of dendritic group calcium signals showed that the overall amplitude of Purkinje cell neural activity increased with the duration and intensity of ultrasound stimulation. Specifically, ultrasound at intensities of 1.3 W/cm² and 4.4 W/cm² significantly enhanced neural activity amplitude at stimulation durations of 80 ms (Figure A) and 500 ms (Figure B), respectively. Two-way ANOVA results indicated that the acoustic intensity of ultrasound is a significant factor affecting the overall neural activity amplitude of Purkinje cell dendrites (Figure C). In addition to the overall neural activity of the dendrites, the calcium signal event occurrence rate during spontaneous activity and ultrasound stimulation was statistically analyzed for the ultrasound-activated dendrites. Comparison results showed that the calcium signal event occurrence rate was significantly higher during ultrasound stimulation than during spontaneous activity in these dendrites (Figures D and E). Comparison results of the calcium signal event occurrence rate induced by ultrasound under different stimulation parameters showed that stimulation duration is a significant factor affecting the stability of ultrasonic neuromodulation of Purkinje cells (Figure F).

Figure 2: Quantitative Analysis Results of Dendritic Group Calcium Signals

Power Amplifier Recommendation: ATA-L Series

Figure: Specification Parameters of the ATA-L Series Underwater Acoustic Power Amplifier