Full manuscript in preparation
Abstract below.Transcranial ultrasound (TUS) effects on chronic pain and mood
Stuart Hameroff1-3, Michael Trakas1, Chris Duffield3, Emil Annabi1, M Bagambhrini
Gerace3, Patrick Boyle1, Anthony Lucas1, Quinlan Amos1, John J Badal1
Departments of Anesthesiology1 and Psychology2, Center for Consciousness Studies3, The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona
Abstract
Background/Objective: Transcranial ultrasound (TUS) can modulate brain function. To assess modulation of mental states, we investigated effects on subjective reports of mood and pain of sub-thermal TUS versus placebo applied to the temporal scalp and brain of chronic pain patient volunteers. Methods: With IRB approval and informed consent, subjects with chronic pain completed two visual analog scales for pain (NRS) and mood (VAMS/Global Affect), and their vital signs were recorded 10 minutes prior to, and 10 minutes and 40 minutes following exposure to either sub-thermal TUS (8 megahertz) or placebo using the 12L-RS probe of a LOGIQe ultrasound imaging machine (General Electric, USA). A physician, also blinded for TUS versus placebo, applied the probe with gel to the scalp ‘temporal window’, contralateral to maximal pain, for 15 seconds. A second investigator operated the ultrasound machine, randomizing TUS versus placebo. The process was then repeated, applying the opposite modality (TUS or placebo). Results: Subjective reports of Mood/Global Affect were improved 10 minutes (p= .027) and 40 minutes (p= .039) following TUS compared with placebo. NRS pain reports improved following TUS at p= .073 at 40 minutes. Conclusion: We found significant improvement in subjective mood 10 minutes and 40 minutes after TUS compared to placebo. TUS can have neurophysiological effects on cognitive and conscious function, and is a promising noninvasive therapy for modulating conscious and unconscious mental states and disorders. We suggest TUS acts via intra-neuronal microtubules which resonate in TUS megahertz range.