Neuromodulation of the Crayfish Third-Nerve by Focused Low-Frequency Pulsed Ultrasound Stimulation

The stimulation and inhibition of neurons, or neuromodulation, forms a cornerstone of modern neurological research. Targeted ultrasound waves can suppress or stimulate action potentials in various animal models, providing a non-invasive, precise and safe means to study the behavior of neurological systems and disorders. We are developing a simple and well understood neurobiological model, the common crayfish, to better characterize the effects of low frequency, pulsed ultrasound when targeted at various abdominal ganglia on the behavior associated efferent (motor) neurons in the presence of external stimulus.