Low-Intensity Ultrasonic Neuromodulation Enhances Cell-Type-Specific Functional Encoding in Rat Anteroventral Cochlear Nucleus

Low-intensity ultrasound (LIUS) has proven to be an effective tool for direct neuro-modulation or potential non-invasive deep brain stimulation technology for treating various neurological disorders. However, the cell-type-specific modulation by LIUS has remained less well understood. In this study, we demonstrate that LIUS medicates cell-type-specific firing pattern in two major neurons of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN), the bushy (BCs) and stellate cells (SCs), using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in vitro. The results show that BCs are well maintaining phase-locking firing by LIUS to provide precise temporal processing, whereas LIUS significant increase the rate of tonic firing in SCs to promote the processing of sounds envelope. Both cell types are received similar modulation of their intrinsic membrane properties by LIUS but engage different ion channels modulatory mechanisms. Therefore, our results promote mechanisms understanding for the development of ultrasonic neuro-modulation technology and may offer an alternative therapy for central auditory processing disorders.