Tanscranial Ultrasonic Stimulation (TUS): Foundations

The goal of this course is to provide the audience with the knowledge required to design and perform transcranial ultrasonic stimulation (TUS) experiments

Course details
Non-credit course
University
Radboud University
Teacher
Various Teachers
Category
Neurobiology
Dimension
Clinical neurotechnology
Level
Intermediate

The goal of this course is to provide the audience with the knowledge required to design and perform transcranial ultrasonic stimulation (TUS) experiments. The course covers the applications, physics, biomechanisms, protocols and effects of ultrasound. Additionally, we separately discuss study design, confounds, personalised and precision stimulation for the technique, and the importance of simulations. At last, we provide demos on neuronavigation, coupling ultrasound, and performing a basic TUS experiment.

Example of questionnaire to self-check your learning

Course Features
Explore various applications of TUS
Applications, physics, biomechanisms, protocols and effects of TUS.
Study design, confounds, and personalised and precision stimulation.

Lessons

Number of lessons: 7
  •  
    Biophysical safety of TUS
    Benjamin Kop

    TUS has two types of biophysical effects on tissues: mechanical and thermal. This lecture discusses these effects in the context of existing safety guidelines for biomedical ultrasound applications (mainly…

  •  
    Protocols and effects - TUS (Foundations)
    Benjamin Kop

    This lecture delves deeper into TUS protocols and effects. Specifically, it discuss the various parameters that encompass a protocol, and explains how the choice of parameters can influence the biophysical and…

  •  
    Study design and confounds - TUS
    Benjamin Kop

    This lecture focuses on common confounds in TUS research, and uses examples from the literature to demonstrate how the effects of such confounds could be misinterpreted as neuromodulatory effects. The goal of the…

  •  
    Personalised and precision stimulation - TUS
    Julian Q. Kosciessa

    Learning from experiences with inter-individual variability in outcomes in TMS and tES, personalized and precision stimulation has has been prioritized from the early stages of TUS research. The goal of this…

  •  
    Acoustic coupling - TUS
    Lennart Verhagen

    In order to ensure that ultrasound is transmitted from the transducer to the head with minimal attenuation, it is important to couple the transducer to the head using aqueous gel or other appropriate materials.…

  •  
    Physiological safety considerations for TUS
    Lennart Verhagen

    This lecture delves deeper into the safety considerations for TUS. Data and experiences from the fields of deep brain stimulation and non-invasive electromagnetic stimulation are leveraged, in addition to animal…

  •  
    Lab demonstration - TUS (including neuronavigation and coupling)
    N/A

    This lecture is a practical demonstration of transcranial ultrasonic stimulation and neuronavigation in humans. The goal of this lecture is to provide hands-on experience in conducting safe and valid basic TUS…