Characterize the effect of LIFU to the bilateral dorsal anterior insula (dAI) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC)) on autonomic control. The dAI is a critical brain area involved in autonomic function with evidence suggesting the right vs left dAI contribute differently to autonomic control, preferentially processing sympathetic and parasympathetic processing, respectively. Similarly, the dACC has been strongly implicated in autonomic control and works with the insula for autonomic processing. Inconveniently, these brain regions lie deep to the cortex, prohibiting access using conventional noninvasive methods like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). LIFU can be focused at depth to reach the insula and ACC with high spatial precision. However, the effect of LIFU to the human dAI and dACC on autonomic control is unknown. To address this, the investigators will target the bilateral dAI and the dACC to assess how LIFU to each of these areas affects subjective report to different safe, reproducible autonomic challenges. These tasks are a cold pressor task, valsalva maneuver, and a deep breathing task.
Studying the effects of Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) to the dorsal anterior insula (dAI) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) on autonomic control using three tests to probe the autonomic system. A cold pressor task, valsalva maneuver, and deep breathing tasks will be performed pre and post LIFU application. Physiologic recordings will be recorded throughout.