Understanding the high-order network plasticity mechanisms of ultrasound neuromodulation

Gatica, Marilyn, Atkinson-Clement, Cyril, Coronel-Oliveros, Carlos, Alkhawashki, Mohammad, A. M. Mediano, Pedro, Tagliazucchi, Enzo, E. Rosas, Fernando, Kaiser, Marcus and Petri, Giovanni (2025) Understanding the high-order network plasticity mechanisms of ultrasound neuromodulation. PLoS Computational Biology, 21. ISSN 1553-7358

Abstract

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique, offering a potential alternative to pharmacological treatments for psychiatric and neurological disorders. While functional analysis has been instrumental in characterizing the TUS effects, understanding its indirect influence across the network remains challenging. Here, we developed a whole-brain model to represent functional changes as measured by fMRI, enabling us to investigate how TUS-induced effects propagate throughout the brain with increasing stimulus intensity. We implemented two mechanisms: one based on anatomical distance and another on broadcasting dynamics, to explore plasticity-driven changes in specific brain regions. Finally, we highlighted the role of higher-order functional interactions in localizing spatial effects of off-line TUS at two target areas—the right thalamus and inferior frontal cortex—revealing distinct patterns of functional reorganization. This work lays the foundation for mechanistic insights and predictive models of TUS, advancing its potential clinical applications.

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