scholarly journals Effects of Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation on Trigeminal Blink Reflex Excitability

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 645
Author(s):  
Andrea Guerra ◽  
Edoardo Vicenzini ◽  
Ettore Cioffi ◽  
Donato Colella ◽  
Antonio Cannavacciuolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substantia Nigra ◽  
Superior Colliculus ◽  
Blink Reflex ◽  
Transcranial Ultrasound ◽  
Recovery Cycle ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Nucleus Raphe Magnus ◽  
Ultrasound Stimulation ◽  
Raphe Magnus ◽  
Interstimulus Intervals

Recent evidence indicates that transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) modulates sensorimotor cortex excitability. However, no study has assessed possible TUS effects on the excitability of deeper brain areas, such as the brainstem. In this study, we investigated whether TUS delivered on the substantia nigra, superior colliculus, and nucleus raphe magnus modulates the excitability of trigeminal blink reflex, a reliable neurophysiological technique to assess brainstem functions in humans. The recovery cycle of the trigeminal blink reflex (interstimulus intervals of 250 and 500 ms) was tested before (T0), and 3 (T1) and 30 min (T2) after TUS. The effects of substantia nigra-TUS, superior colliculus-TUS, nucleus raphe magnus-TUS and sham-TUS were assessed in separate and randomized sessions. In the superior colliculus-TUS session, the conditioned R2 area increased at T1 compared with T0, while T2 and T0 values did not differ. Results were independent of the interstimulus intervals tested and were not related to trigeminal blink reflex baseline (T0) excitability. Conversely, the conditioned R2 area was comparable at T0, T1, and T2 in the nucleus raphe magnus-TUS and substantia nigra-TUS sessions. Our findings demonstrate that the excitability of brainstem circuits, as evaluated by testing the recovery cycle of the trigeminal blink reflex, can be increased by TUS. This result may reflect the modulation of inhibitory interneurons within the superior colliculus.

scholarly journals Effects of transcranial ultrasound stimulation on trigeminal blink reflex excitability

2021 ◽  
Vol 429 ◽  
pp. 118522
Author(s):  
Donato Colella ◽  
Andrea Guerra ◽  
Edoardo Vicenzini ◽  
Ettore Cioffi ◽  
Antonio Cannavacciuolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blink Reflex ◽  
Transcranial Ultrasound ◽  
Reflex Excitability ◽  
Ultrasound Stimulation

scholarly journals The tectonigral pathway regulates appetitive locomotion in predatory hunting in mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meizhu Huang ◽  
Dapeng Li ◽  
Xinyu Cheng ◽  
Qing Pei ◽  
Zhiyong Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substantia Nigra ◽  
Superior Colliculus ◽  
Dopamine Release ◽  
Dorsal Striatum ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta ◽  
Neuronal Circuitry ◽  
Locomotion Speed ◽  
Brain Circuit ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior

AbstractAppetitive locomotion is essential for animals to approach rewards, such as food and prey. The neuronal circuitry controlling appetitive locomotion is unclear. In a goal-directed behavior—predatory hunting, we show an excitatory brain circuit from the superior colliculus (SC) to the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) to enhance appetitive locomotion in mice. This tectonigral pathway transmits locomotion-speed signals to dopamine neurons and triggers dopamine release in the dorsal striatum. Synaptic inactivation of this pathway impairs appetitive locomotion but not defensive locomotion. Conversely, activation of this pathway increases the speed and frequency of approach during predatory hunting, an effect that depends on the activities of SNc dopamine neurons. Together, these data reveal that the SC regulates locomotion-speed signals to SNc dopamine neurons to enhance appetitive locomotion in mice.

Inhibition of primate spinothalamic tract neurons by stimulation in the region of the nucleus raphe magnus

1976 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.E. Beall ◽  
R.F. Martin ◽  
A.E. Applebaum ◽  
W.D. Willis
Keyword(s):  
Spinothalamic Tract ◽  
Nucleus Raphe Magnus ◽  
Raphe Magnus
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