Unlocking the Brain’s Secrets Using Sound

Recent findings published in the journal Physical Review X offer insight into how ultrasonic waves effect brain cells. This discovery could lead to important medical advances which would allow ultrasonic waves to probe the brain’s internal structure non-invasively — without the use of electrode implantation or MRI scans. This new way of understanding the interaction between sound waves and cells relies on the cellular membrane, according to the mouse study. When ultrasonic waves encountered a cell, the two layers of the cellular membrane began to vibrate, creating an electrical charge that built up enough to result in an electrical communication, also known as an action potential. This study marks the first predictive theory of ultrasound stimulation, according to the research team. To find out more about the results of this study, click here.