Fig. 2.

Effect of ultrasound waves on a HH neuron. (1) Current is injected to mimic the natural firing of a HH neuron. The variation propagates throughout the neural membrane. Due to the membrane's dielectric nature, a transient phase change of charges creates a strain gradient which couples with a spontaneous electrical polarization and generates a flexoelectric current (2). This gives rise to a membrane-voltage induced tension. As ultrasound stimulation is applied (3), the pressure creates a lateral tension. (4) The total tension rise induces a change in the internal free energy $\Delta G$ which in turn increases the probability of the ion channels being open due to a change in their conductance (6). A noticeable increase in the outward potassium current supports the suppressive nature of ultrasound stimulation to a HH neuron.