Application Cases

Experimental Name: Direct Modulation Effect of Low-Intensity Ultrasound on Cerebellar Cortical Neural Activity

Research Direction: Ultrasound Neuromodulation

Experimental Content: This study systematically investigated the response patterns of cerebellar neurons to low-intensity ultrasound using two-photon in vivo calcium imaging. A novel behavioral detection paradigm for ultrasound neuromodulation was proposed, revealing the direct excitatory effect of low-intensity ultrasound on the cerebellar cortex through three aspects: ultrasound-induced sustained effects, elimination of neuronal responses under off-target stimulation, and induction of motor behaviors in mice.

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

Experimental Process: In experiments where the ultrasound stimulation duration was ≤500 ms, a 127 kHz transducer was selected to generate high-intensity ultrasound stimulation. The transducer had a horn length of 26 mm and a tip diameter of 2 mm. The electrical signal driving the transducer was generated by a function signal generator and amplified by the ATA-L4 underwater acoustic power amplifier. The electrical signal was then converted into a mechanical signal via piezoelectric ceramics.

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of the Experimental Setup for Low-Intensity Ultrasound Modulation of Cerebellar Cortical Neural Activity

Experimental Results:
Quantitative analysis of dendritic population calcium signals showed that the overall amplitude of Purkinje cell neural activity under ultrasound stimulation increased with longer stimulation durations and higher ultrasound intensities. Specifically, ultrasound at intensities of 1.3 W/cm² and 4.4 W/cm² significantly enhanced neural activity amplitudes at stimulation durations of 80 ms (Figure A) and 500 ms (Figure B). Two-way ANOVA results indicated that ultrasound intensity was a significant factor influencing the overall neural activity amplitude of Purkinje cell dendrites (Figure C).

In addition to the overall neural activity, statistical analysis was performed on the calcium signal event rates in ultrasound-activated dendrites during spontaneous activity and ultrasound stimulation. The results showed that the calcium signal event rates during ultrasound stimulation were significantly higher than during spontaneous activity in these dendrites (Figures D and E). Comparison of calcium signal event rates under different stimulation parameters revealed that stimulation duration was a significant factor affecting the stability of ultrasound neuromodulation in Purkinje cells (Figure F).

Figure 2: Quantitative Analysis Results of Dendritic Population Calcium Signals

Power Amplifier Recommendation: ATA-L Series

Figure: ATA-L Series Underwater Acoustic Power Amplifier Specifications and Parameters