Safety and feasibility of focused ultrasound neuromodulation in temporal lobe epilepsy

Background/introduction Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common pharmacologically refractory form of epilepsy. While it can often be effectively treated by temporal lobe surgery, that does not always eliminate seizures, and many patients are not suitable candidates for surgery. A noninvasive method to augment surgical or medical treatment of TLE would be highly useful. Low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsation (LIFUP) offers the potential for non-invasive neuromodulation, and in animal studies has not shown any evidence of tissue damage. However, the technology has not yet been tested in humans. We are currently testing the safety and feasibility of using a LIFUP device on humans to modulate brain activity in the temporal lobe.