A study of reception with the use of focused ultrasound. II. Effects on the animal receptor structures

The possibility of stimulation of receptor structures with focused ultrasound (focused beam of high frequency mechanical waves) was investigated. Stimulation of single Pacinian corpuscle isolated from cat's mesentery resulted in receptor and action potentials. Stimulation of frog's ear labyrinth resulted in evoked potentials recorded from midbrain auditory area, their characteristics being much the same as those for responses to adequate sound stimuli. It is concluded that focused ultrasound is an advantageous agent for stimulation of various mechanoreceptors both isolated and, especially, located deep in the body. Some problems related to sensory specificity are discussed.