The goal of this preclinical study is to assess the effects of focused ultrasound stimulation to the cerebellum on brain dynamics and cognition in healthy volunteers aged 18 to 40. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does FUS applied to the cerebellum affect cognition? Does FUS applied to the white matter or gray matter of the cerebellum with the same parameters result in different outcomes? Researchers will compare active and sham stimulations. Participants will be asked to complete cognitive tasks after receiving FUS to the cerebellum.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
20
Focused ultrasound stimulation administered to the cerebellar nucleus or efferent fiber tract.
This is the electroencephalography reading that will show changes in brain activity as describes in outcome measures
Precision Medical Imaging, QMC
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Electroencephalogram (EEG) power and spatiotemporal dynamics
The investigators measure the changes in EEG power in delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma band, and spatiotemporal dynamics while administering concurrent transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS). The EEG will also be used to asses network changes during sonication.
Time frame: Through study completion, peri-procedurally, on days 1, 2 and 3
Electrooculogram (EOG) power and spatiotemporal dynamics
The investigators measure the ocular saccades from both frontal head electrodes and electrodes places by the sides of the eyes while administering concurrent tFUS. This data will be used for identifying and removing eye-movement artifacts from EEG and assess eye saccades during sonication. This will be applied to some of the participants but not all, due to availability.
Time frame: Through study completion, peri-procedurally, on days 1, 2 and 3
Brief Ataxia Rating Scale (BARS)
The investigators measure BARS out of a total score of 30. A score of 0 means that the participant experiences no motor deficits of cerebellar origin, whereas a score of 30 means that the participant is highly ataxic.
Time frame: Through study completion, post-procedurally, on days 1, 2 and 3
Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome Scale (CCASS)
The investigators measure CCASS out of a total score of 120, or an absolute score that isn't limited, where a higher score is a better outcome
Time frame: Through study completion, post-procedurally, on days 1, 2 and 3
n-Back Continuous performance task
The investigators measure working memory with a game that involves remembering the last letter shown, with the "n" in n-Back denoting how many letters back the memorised letter was shown.
Time frame: Through study completion, post-procedurally, on days 1, 2 and 3
Agency Task
The investigators measure participant's sense of agency through a game which involves the participant assessing their level of control and performance. the score is calculated from how well the participant matches their assessment to the game's assessment.
Time frame: Through study completion, post-procedurally, on days 1, 2 and 3
Verbal Paired Associates (VPA)
The investigators measure a participant's ability to remember the second word in a set of word pairs. The score is out of a total of 48, but calculations are done to assess performance over repetitions and time.
Time frame: Through study completion, post-procedurally, on days 1, 2 and 3
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