Event

MS Defense - Arijit Dutta

Wednesday, April 17, 2024
9:30 a.m.
PSC 1148
Rachel Chang
301 405 8268
rachel53@umd.edu

Title: Investigation of the Impact of Acoustic Forcing on Neural Network Activity

Committee members:

Dr. Wolfgang Losert, Chair

Dr. John Fisher

Dr. William Bentley 

Abstract:

The increase in the prevalence of neurological disorders, now estimated to affect 15% of the worldwide population, has highlighted the need to fundamentally understand how neuronal networks function in normal and diseased conditions. Acoustic forcing has been identified as a method to advance the fabrication and understanding of how neural networks function. This phenomenon occurs as acoustic waves at ultrasonic frequencies impart a force on a target through a medium. Acoustic forcing in the context of neural engineering can be divided into two areas: cell patterning and neuromodulation. Cell patterning via acoustic forcing has led to the development of biomimetic neural organoids. Neuromodulation has been shown to stimulate neuronal activity and is popularly used in transcranial focused ultrasound. A concern in transcranial focused ultrasound is the formation of standing waves, and thus pressure gradients, within the brain. The mechanism of how standing wave formation impacts neuronal network activity remains limited. This thesis focuses on elucidating the impact of acoustic standing waves on large-scale neuronal activity through the fabrication and application of a standing-wave generating device on assembled ReNcell human neural progenitor-derived neural networks. Neuronal activity was measured and analyzed via calcium imaging.