'Sonogenetics' Allow Researchers, to Control Brain Cells, in Animals Using Ultrasound.<br />A team of scientists at the San Diego <br />Salk Institute have stimulated the <br />brain cells of mice using ultrasound. .<br />Freethink.com reports that researchers were able to use ultrasound to move the limbs of mice. .<br />Freethink.com reports that researchers were able to use ultrasound to move the limbs of mice. .<br />The technique, known as "sonogenetics," is one of several new methods to stimulate and alter neurons in the brain directly without the use of drugs. .<br />The technique, known as "sonogenetics," is one of several new methods to stimulate and alter neurons in the brain directly without the use of drugs. .<br />We’ve spent so much time over the last <br />few decades focusing on pharmacologic <br />therapies. This paper is another really <br />important piece to this puzzle <br />of developing neural circuit-based <br />therapeutics for disease, Colleen Hanlon, Biologist at Wake Forest, via Freethink.com.<br />Freethink reports that ultrasound is an appealing <br />option for scientists as it already has a well-understood <br />safety profile and is already widely in use. .<br />Freethink reports that ultrasound is an appealing <br />option for scientists as it already has a well-understood <br />safety profile and is already widely in use. .<br />Ultrasound is safe, noninvasive, <br />and can be easily focused through <br />thin bone and tissue to volumes <br />of a few cubic millimeters, Salk Institute Team, via Freethink.com.<br />According to Freethink, <br />the research may eventually be applied <br />to a number of therapies and treatments.<br />The potential for neuronal control <br />is huge. It has applications for <br />pacemakers, insulin pumps, <br />and other therapies that <br />we’re not even thinking about, Sreekanth Chalasani, Salk Institute neuroscientist, <br />via Freethink.com.<br />The team at the Salk Institute is now working on <br />making the ultrasound response stronger and tweaking <br />the technology on its way to clinical application.
