Research focus
The PhD project aims at the establishment and demonstration of a setup for Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Pulsation (LIFUP) during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
LIFUP is a newly emerging method for the stimulation of the human brain using ultrasound pulsation. It has the advantage of being completely non-invasive and to have a good spatial focality, which likely includes the possibility to focus stimulation in deeper areas of the brain. Nonetheless, only few studies with LIFUP have been performed in humans so far and the exploration of its full potential requires further methodological development. Once established, this would open up fully novel diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities. FMRI is needed in order to better assess the spatial extent of the neuromodulatory effect of LIFUP.
As part of the project, Cristina Pasquinelli will spend one year at Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology in Daejeon, South Korea, under the supervision of Assistant Professor Hyunjoo Jenny Lee.
The project is carried out from both DTU Electrical Engineering and Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance at Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, providing access to scanners.
Scientific output
Find Cristina's publications at DTU's online research database ORBIT.
Funding
The project is internally funded by DTU.
Supervisors
Associate Professor Axel Thielscher, Associate Professor Lars G. Hanson and Assistant Professor Hyonjuu Jenny Lee from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
Project period
December 2015 - December 2018.