Whales, bats, and even mantis use ultrasound as a sensory guidance system. A recent new discovery by scientists at the Virginia Institute of Technology ’s Galilean Institute shows that applying ultrasound directly to specific areas of the brain can enhance people ’s ability to distinguish touch . This is also the first time that low-intensity, transcranial focused ultrasound can regulate human brain activity and improve awareness. Related papers were published online in the recently published "Nature-Neuroscience".
"At present, the mapping of human brain neural connections is on the rise, and ultrasound is expected to bring unprecedented resolution for this." Said William Jamie-Taylor, an associate professor at the Garyland Institute in charge of the study, "we decided to look at the ultrasound What are the effects of the brain regions that process tactile input information. "
They sent focused ultrasound to the area of ​​the cerebral cortex that handles hand sensation. To stimulate the middle nerve (a nerve that passes down the arm through the carpal tunnel), they placed a small electrode on the volunteer's wrist and recorded their brain response with an electroencephalogram (EEG). Then before stimulating the nerve, aim at the corresponding brain area and start sending ultrasound. It was found that ultrasound can reduce the EEG signal and weaken the brain wave's response to encoded tactile stimuli.
The researchers then conducted two traditional neurological tests: two-point discrimination and frequency discrimination. The former checks whether the volunteer can distinguish two adjacent objects that are in contact with the skin at two different points; the latter detects his sensitivity to the frequency of a series of airflows. Experiments have shown that volunteers receiving ultrasonic waves have significantly improved their ability to detect small differences in the frequency of continuous airflows near objects. When the research team moved the ultrasound beam a centimeter from its original position, this effect disappeared.
Taylor said: "The observations surprised us! Although the brain waves associated with tactile stimuli are weakened, people do do better in perceiving the difference in perception." ? This seems contradictory. Taylor speculates that ultrasound affects important nerve balance. "We believe that focusing ultrasound on the brain area it targets changes the balance of excitement and inhibition when dealing with sensory stimuli. This change prevents the expansion of stimulus excitement and enhances the awareness function."
Taylor said: "This means that we can use ultrasound to target a one-millimeter brain area. This discovery also brings a new non-invasive method of regulating human brain activity, and the spatial resolution exceeds any existing method." Based on the results of this study and an earlier study, researchers believe that ultrasound has a higher spatial resolution than current transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation.
The first author of the paper and the postdoctoral scholar of the Garyland Institute, Wayne-Legen, said: "Further understanding how ultrasound pulses affect the balance of synaptic inhibition and excitement, and how it affects the activity of local brain circuits on long-range connections, is more accurate for us. The large number of interconnected synaptic circuits in the human brain is helpful. "
"In the development of new safe and effective non-invasive methods to regulate the information flow in the human brain cell circuit, Jamie Taylor and his colleagues are at the forefront of research." Michael Gary, executive director of the Garyland Institute and neuroscientist specializing in brain plasticity -Friedland said that this method provides technical and theoretical proof for accurately mastering neural circuit activities, helps to develop potential therapies for neurodegenerative disorders, and also explores normal human brain functions, understands cognition, and makes decisions And thinking brings powerful new tools.
Taylor said: "In neuroscience, it is easy to disturb some things. We can distract you, make you feel numb, and create optical illusions. It is easy to make things worse, but it is difficult to make things better. This The discovery convinced us that our path is correct. "
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With its glassy luster, obsidian is a distinctive stone. Obsidian is formed as lava from volcanic eruptions cools within the earth. The speed at which it cools prevents crystallization and the rock forms as solid volcanic glass.
Although its most common color is black, obsidian can also be found in light brown, brown mottled with black, and black with a beautiful golden or silvery sheen.Snowflake obsidian is dotted with white patches where parts of the rock have begun to crystallize. The most prized obsidian by gemologists is the rainbow obsidian variety with purple, green and gold bands of sheen.
Obsidian was revered by ancient cultures. It was one of the major barter materials, and prized for its ability to be worked to razor-sharp edges for arrows and spears. It has been used since prehistoric times for making tools, masks, weapons, mirrors and jewelry.
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Obsidian can be found anywhere that volcanic activity has occurred. Some of its important sources today are South America, Japan, Mexico, Afghanistan, and parts of the United States. The San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona, United States, produces an interesting banded variety of obsidian known as "Apache Tears".
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