Effects of low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation on cortical functional network connections and epileptic seizures in a mouse model of epilepsy

Exploration of the epilepsy cortical network is helpful for understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of epilepsy and optimizing the treatment direction of epilepsy. Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS), characterized by non-invasiveness, high penetration depth, and high spatial resolution, has the potential to modulate brain functional networks. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms by which TUS influences the cortical network in awake epilepsy model mice remain inadequately understood. Here, we observed that TUS significantly decreased the power of the whole cerebral cortex, diminished the phase lag index functional connectivity strength of the whole cerebral cortex, reduced the strength of cortical network connections, and accelerated the transition process from the epileptic seizure state to the normal state. Taken together, these findings indicated that epileptic seizures were suppressed after TUS modulated cortical functional network connections in mice.