A system for modifying neuronal activity in a subject, the system comprising: an imaging system for imaging the subject; an ultrasound transducer including multiple transducer elements; and a control system programmed to: coordinate the ultrasound transducer with the imaging system to facilitate the identification of a location in the subject for the modification of neuronal activity; drive the ultrasound transducer to induce an increase in neuronal activity in the subject, comprising applying to the identified location a first set of pulses of focused ultrasound, wherein each of the first set of pulses is formed in accordance with first parameters including a tone burst duration, TBD, in the range of between 2 and 100 milliseconds and a total sonication duration less than 2 seconds; and drive the ultrasound transducer to induce a decrease in neuronal activity in the subject, comprising applying to the identified location a second set of pulses of focused ultrasound, wherein each of the second set of pulses is formed in accordance with second parameters including a TBD less than 2 milliseconds and a total sonication duration greater than 2 seconds. an imaging system for imaging the subject; an ultrasound transducer including multiple transducer elements; and a control system programmed to: coordinate the ultrasound transducer with the imaging system to facilitate the identification of a location in the subject for the modification of neuronal activity; drive the ultrasound transducer to induce an increase in neuronal activity in the subject, comprising applying to the identified location a first set of pulses of focused ultrasound, wherein each of the first set of pulses is formed in accordance with first parameters including a tone burst duration, TBD, in the range of between 2 and 100 milliseconds and a total sonication duration less than 2 seconds; and drive the ultrasound transducer to induce a decrease in neuronal activity in the subject, comprising applying to the identified location a second set of pulses of focused ultrasound, wherein each of the second set of pulses is formed in accordance with second parameters including a TBD less than 2 milliseconds and a total sonication duration greater than 2 seconds. coordinate the ultrasound transducer with the imaging system to facilitate the identification of a location in the subject for the modification of neuronal activity; drive the ultrasound transducer to induce an increase in neuronal activity in the subject, comprising applying to the identified location a first set of pulses of focused ultrasound, wherein each of the first set of pulses is formed in accordance with first parameters including a tone burst duration, TBD, in the range of between 2 and 100 milliseconds and a total sonication duration less than 2 seconds; and drive the ultrasound transducer to induce a decrease in neuronal activity in the subject, comprising applying to the identified location a second set of pulses of focused ultrasound, wherein each of the second set of pulses is formed in accordance with second parameters including a TBD less than 2 milliseconds and a total sonication duration greater than 2 seconds.