Low-intensity focused ultrasound to the insula differentially modulates the heartbeat-evoked potential: A proof-of-concept study

Objective

The heartbeat evoked potential (HEP) is a brain response time-locked to the heartbeat and a potential marker of interoceptive processing that may be generated in the insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) can selectively modulate sub-regions of the insula and dACC to better understand their contributions to the HEP.

Methods

Healthy participants (n = 16) received stereotaxically targeted LIFU to the anterior insula (AI), posterior insula (PI), dACC, or Sham at rest during continuous electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG) recording on separate days. Primary outcome was HEP amplitudes. Relationships between LIFU pressure and HEP changes and effects of LIFU on heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) were also explored.

Results

Relative to sham, LIFU to the PI, but not AI or dACC, decreased HEP amplitudes; PI effects were partially explained by increased LIFU pressure. LIFU did not affect heart rate or HRV.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate the ability to modulate HEP amplitudes via non-invasive targeting of key interoceptive brain regions.

Significance

Our findings have implications for the causal role of these areas in bottom-up heart-brain communication that could guide future work investigating the HEP as a marker of interoceptive processing in healthy and clinical populations.