低强度经颅超声刺激（TUS）效应方向性假说与 inTUS 数据库资源
Ultrasound neuromodulation hypotheses on the directionality of effects and community resource
一项针对低强度经颅超声刺激（TUS）效应方向性的初步荟萃分析纳入 47 项健康人研究、52 个实验，发现刺激强度和连续性（占空比，DC）等参数在单变量检验中呈现与神经功能增强或抑制相关的统计趋势。由于样本量偏小，机器学习分析受到限制。为此作者建立了 inTUS 数据库与资源，用于系统报告 TUS 参数与结果，以提升脑刺激与神经调控的精确性。文章还选择性回顾了人类临床 TUS 研究，说明效应方向性假说可针对预期临床应用开展实证检验。
来源：eLife · doi.org
Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a promising non-invasive technique for brain stimulation and focal neuromodulation. Research with humans and animal models has raised the possibility that TUS can be biased towards enhancing or suppressing neural function. Here, we first collate a set of hypotheses on the directionality of TUS effects and conduct an initial meta-analysis on available healthy human participant TUS studies reporting stimulation parameters and outcomes (n = 47 studies, 52 experiments). In initial exploratory analyses with univariate tests, we find that parameters, such as the intensity and continuity of stimulation (duty cycle, DC) show statistical trends towards likely TUS neural enhancement or suppression of function. Machine-learning analyses were limited by the currently small sample size. Given that human TUS sample sizes are expected to increase, predictability on the directionality of TUS effects could improve if a database is available. Therefore, we establish an inTUS database and resource for the systematic reporting of TUS parameters and outcomes to assist in greater precision in TUS use for brain stimulation and neuromodulation. The paper concludes with a selective review of human clinical TUS studies illustrating how hypotheses on the directionality of TUS effects could be developed for empirical testing in the intended clinical application, not limited to the examples provided.