In this section
@article{Rintoul:2026:10.1038/s41467-026-73826-2,
author = {Rintoul, J and Butler, C and Cleveland, R and Grossman, N},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-73826-2},
journal = {Nature Communications},
title = {Non-invasive in vivo acoustoelectric neuromodulation and its contribution to ultrasound stimulation},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73826-2},
volume = {17},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - Non-invasive brain stimulation offers therapeutic potential without surgery, yet existing electrical approaches lack spatial precision due to the long wavelengths of electric fields. Here we demonstrate acoustoelectric neuromodulation, a nonlinear interaction between applied acoustic and electric fields that generates spatially localised, low-frequency electric fields at the ultrasound focus. Using in vitro and in vivo mouse electrophysiology, we show motor-evoked responses that depend on both the amplitude and frequency of the acoustoelectric field, with controls excluding purely acoustic or electrical origins. In vivo measurements show acoustoelectric potentials of ≈9 mV, corresponding to estimated focal electric fields of ~6 V/m at 500 kHz and 1 MPa acoustic pressure, with ~1.5 mm extrema spacing demonstrated in phantom experiments. Importantly, we identify an acoustoelectric contribution to conventional ultrasound stimulation, arising from interactions between ultrasound-induced electrical signals and propagating acoustic waves, establishing acoustoelectric neuromodulation as a distinct mechanism influencing ultrasound-based brain stimulation.
AU - Rintoul,J
AU - Butler,C
AU - Cleveland,R
AU - Grossman,N
DO - 10.1038/s41467-026-73826-2
PY - 2026///
SN - 2041-1723
TI - Non-invasive in vivo acoustoelectric neuromodulation and its contribution to ultrasound stimulation
T2 - Nature Communications
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73826-2
VL - 17
ER -
Dr Nir Grossman
Senior Lecturer in Dementia Research and Group Leader at the UK DRI
nirg@imperial.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7594 6805
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