Ultrasonic Deep Brain Neuromodulation in Acute Disorders of Consciousness: A Proof-of-Concept.
Brain Sci
; 12(4)2022 Mar 23.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35447960
ABSTRACT
The promotion of recovery in patients who have entered a disorder of consciousness (DOC; e.g., coma or vegetative states) following severe brain injury remains an enduring medical challenge despite an ever-growing scientific understanding of these conditions. Indeed, recent work has consistently implicated altered cortical modulation by deep brain structures (e.g., the thalamus and the basal ganglia) following brain damage in the arising of, and recovery from, DOCs. The (re)emergence of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) neuromodulation may provide a means to selectively modulate the activity of deep brain structures noninvasively for the study and treatment of DOCs. This technique is unique in its combination of relatively high spatial precision and noninvasive implementation. Given the consistent implication of the thalamus in DOCs and prior results inducing behavioral recovery through invasive thalamic stimulation, here we applied ultrasound to the central thalamus in 11 acute DOC patients, measured behavioral responsiveness before and after sonication, and applied functional MRI during sonication. With respect to behavioral responsiveness, we observed significant recovery in the week following thalamic LIFU compared with baseline. With respect to functional imaging, we found decreased BOLD signals in the frontal cortex and basal ganglia during LIFU compared with baseline. In addition, we also found a relationship between altered connectivity of the sonicated thalamus and the degree of recovery observed post-LIFU.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Brain Sci
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos