A thalamic nucleus specific for pain and temperature sensation

OBJECTIVEUltrasound can be precisely focused through the intact human skull to target deep regions of the brain for stereotactic ablations. Acoustic energy at much lower intensities is capable of both exciting and inhibiting neural tissues without causing tissue heating or damage. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effects of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) for neuromodulation and selective mapping in the thalamus of a large-brain animal.METHODSTen Yorkshire swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) were used in this study. In the first neuromodulation experiment, the lemniscal sensory thalamus was stereotactically targeted with LIFU, and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) were monitored. In a second mapping experiment, the ventromedial and ventroposterolateral sensory thalamic nuclei were alternately targeted with LIFU, while both trigeminal and tibial evoked SSEPs were recorded. Temperature at the acoustic focus was assessed using MR thermography. At the end of the experiments, all tissues were assessed histologically for damage.RESULTSLIFU targeted to the ventroposterolateral thalamic nucleus suppressed SSEP amplitude to 71.6% ± 11.4% (mean ± SD) compared with baseline recordings. Second, we found a similar degree of inhibition with a high spatial resolution (∼ 2 mm) since adjacent thalamic nuclei could be selectively inhibited. The ventromedial thalamic nucleus could be inhibited without affecting the ventrolateral nucleus. During MR thermography imaging, there was no observed tissue heating during LIFU sonications and no histological evidence of tissue damage.CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that LIFU can be safely used to modulate neuronal circuits in the central nervous system and that noninvasive brain mapping with focused ultrasound may be feasible in humans.

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The role of the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus in human olfaction

Neurocase ◽

10.1080/13554794.2010.504728 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 148-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Wendy W. P. Tham ◽

Richard J. Stevenson ◽

Laurie A. Miller

Keyword(s):

Thalamic Nucleus ◽

Mediodorsal Thalamic Nucleus ◽

Human Olfaction

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Exposure to hot and cold environments activates neurons projecting from the paraventricular thalamic nucleus to brain regions related to approach and avoidance behaviors

Journal of Thermal Biology ◽

10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.103157 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 103 ◽

pp. 103157

Author(s):

Minami Kanai ◽

Ryota Kamiizawa ◽

Natsuko Hitora-Imamura ◽

Masabumi Minami

Keyword(s):

Thalamic Nucleus ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Approach And Avoidance ◽

Cold Environments ◽

Avoidance Behaviors

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A novel approach for locating mice brain regions of Cryptococcus neoformans CNS invasion

Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology ◽

10.3329/bjp.v11is1.26845 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. S136-S143

Author(s):

Chunting He ◽

Qingfen Chen ◽

Longkun Zhu

Keyword(s):

Motor Cortex ◽

Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Thalamic Nucleus ◽

Molecular Layer ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Stratum Lucidum ◽

Lateral Posterior

Aim of this study was to locate the brain regions where Cryptococcus interact with brain cells and invade into brain. After 7 days of intratracheal inocula-tion of GFP-tagged Cryptococcus neoformans strains H99, serial cryosections (10 ?m) from 3 C57 BL/6 J mice brains were imaged with immunofluorescence microscopy. GFP-tagged H99 were found in some brain regions such as primary motor cortex-secondary motor cortex, caudate putamen, stratum lucidum of hippocampus, field CA1 of hippocampus, dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, lateral posterior thalamic nucleus, laterorostral part, lateral posterior thalamic nucleus, mediorostral part, retrosplenial agranular cortex, lateral area of secondary visual cortex, and lacunosum molecular layer of the hippocampus. The results will be very useful for further exploring the mechanism of C. neoformans infection of brain.

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