Rapid modulation of choice behavior by ultrasound on the human frontal eye fields

This dataset was collected as part of a study investigating the effects of transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) on the frontal eye fields (FEFs) in humans. A fundamental challenge in neuroscience is establishing causal brain-function relationships with spatial and temporal precision.
TUS offers a unique opportunity to modulate deep brain structures non-invasively with high spatial resolution, but temporally precise effects and their neurophysiological foundations have yet to be demonstrated in humans. Here, we develop a temporally precise TUS protocol targeting the frontal eye fields (FEFs) — a well-characterized circuit critical for saccadic eye movements. We demonstrate that TUS induces robust excitatory behavioral effects. Importantly, individual differences in baseline GABAergic inhibitory tone predict response magnitude. These findings establish TUS as a reliable tool for chronometric circuit interogation and highlight the importance of neurophysiological state in neuromodulation. This work bridges human and animal research, advancing targeted TUS applications in neuroscience and clinical settings.

Data were acquired across three experimental sessions:
Session 1: Structural MRI scans were obtained for neuronavigation, Functional MRI (BOLD) was used to localize the FEFs and M1 (motor cortex), Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed to estimate GABA+ levels in the left FEF and left M1.
Session 2: Behavioral and eye-tracking data were collected while participants performed a saccade task designed to assess TUS effects on FEF function.
Session 3: Behavioral and eye-tracking data were recorded again, a behavioral masking assessment was conducted exposing participants to conditions similar to the main saccade task to evaluate the efficacy of control conditions.

The dataset includes the following data types:
Neuroimaging Data: Structural MRI scans for neuronavigation (please note that since the T1-weighted scans are not anonymized, they cannot be shared in this folder), Functional MRI (BOLD) data from FEF and M1 localizers, MRS data estimating GABA+ levels in the left FEF and left M1.
Behavioral and Eye-Tracking Data: Saccade task data, assessing the impact of TUS on FEF function, Masking assessment data validating control conditions.