Byoung-Kyong Min, PhD

Recent Work

My recent work has focused on the feasible application of focused
ultrasound (FUS) sonication to modulate neural activity. I work with Prof. Seung-Schik Yoo in the Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital. We investigate the sonication effect of FUS ranging from the electrophysiological level to the neurotransmitter level. Currently, we observed that FUS sonication significantly suppresses epileptic EEG spikes in an animal in vivo model. Through a microdialysis study, we also found that FUS significantly modulates the extracellular level of major neurotransmitters in the brain (e.g. GABA, dopamine and serotonin). All of these results suggest that FUS sonication may offer new perspectives for a non-invasive and spatially-focused treatment of neurological or psychiatric disorders.

My other current research interest is to accomplish non-invasive computer-brain interfacing, using the FUS technique. I am also currently involved in our real-time fMRI (rtfMRI) project, so rtfMRI signals are going to be used to control FUS parameters in real-time. Combining with previously developed brain-computer interfaces, we would like to ultimately accomplish brain-to-brain interfacing (BBI). Electroencephalography (EEG), which was my PhD study field, can also be adopted in developing BBI application.