
Background Transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) has recently been proposed as a promising non-invasive technique for treating neurological disorders. While neuropsychological improvements in treated Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients support its safety and preliminary clinical effectiveness, the fundamental mechanisms of TPS action on the brain remain unclear. Objective In this study, we explore the effects of TPS on neuronal activity and brain circuitry in healthy and AD mouse models. Methods We utilized fluorescence calcium imaging combined with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and c-Fos immunohistochemistry for validation. We imaged TPS-treated mouse brains expressing genetically encoded calcium indicator and compared the imaging data from AD mouse strains to wild-type controls, followed by immunohistochemical analysis of neuronal activation to support the in vivo imaging findings. Results TPS induced robust calcium influxes in GCaMP + mice, increased c-Fos expression in the dentate gyrus, and rapidly but transiently reorganized functional connectivity across brain networks, particularly within the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and other limbic regions. At higher stimulation intensities, TPS is shown to trigger spreading depolarization waves. Conclusion These findings support the hypothesis that TPS-induced mechanical effects can effectively modulate brain activity while averting tissue heating and cavitation, thus shedding light on observed beneficial effects in patients and paving the way for further optimization of TPS as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.
Neurons, Male, Brain, Mice, Transgenic, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Therapeutic ultrasound, Mice, Inbred C57BL, 170 Ethics, Mice, Disease Models, Animal, Alzheimer Disease, Calcium influx, Animals, 570 Life sciences; biology, Calcium, Nerve Net, Transcranial pulse stimulation, Reorganization of functional network, 610 Medicine & health, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
Neurons, Male, Brain, Mice, Transgenic, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Therapeutic ultrasound, Mice, Inbred C57BL, 170 Ethics, Mice, Disease Models, Animal, Alzheimer Disease, Calcium influx, Animals, 570 Life sciences; biology, Calcium, Nerve Net, Transcranial pulse stimulation, Reorganization of functional network, 610 Medicine & health, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 4 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
