Developing a Method of Adjusting the Strength of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound (tFUS) to Personalize Treatment.
Medical University of South Carolina
Summary
The purposes of this research study is to: 1. Develop a technique of transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation (tFUS) where meaningful effects on the brain can be easily measured. 2. Use this technique to measure threshold for effective tFUS in individuals. 3. Determine whether disruption of conscious visual detection, versus non-conscious visually-guided behavior have different thresholds for disruption with tFUS.
Description
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is a new noninvasive way to stimulate the brain in an awake and alert person. Investigators do not yet have an easily observable way to know whether they are in the right brain location with the correct dose for that person. Investigators wonder if they can produce a transient change in someone's visual field, called a scotoma, and whether they can use that to determine the minimum tFUS dose for that person.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female * Age 18-70 * Normal or corrected-to normal vision and hearing * No neurological or psychological illness Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of any depressive or anxiety disorder * Diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder * Current use of any non-prescribed psychoactive medications or drugs * Contraindication to enter the MRI environment. * Pregnancy (or suspected/possible pregnancy or plan to become pregnant in the short term). * Urine Pregnancy Test: If the subject is a woman of childbearing potential and /or a man capable of fathering a child befor…
Interventions
- DeviceBrainsonix Bx Pulsar machine tFUS
This is a tFUS device, delivering ultrasound at a dose within the FDA safety guidelines.
Location
- Medical University of South Carolina Brain Stimulation DivisionCharleston, South Carolina