Elimination of peripheral auditory pathway activation does not affect motor responses from ultrasound neuromodulation

•Transcranial ultrasound can be focused for neuromodulation of neural circuits deep in the brain.•Transcranial ultrasound with a rectangular waveform envelope intended to reach a motor area activates the auditory system.•Transcranial ultrasound waveforms can be smoothed to eliminate the auditory responses yet maintain the motor responses.•These findings were validated in hearing mice and two strains of genetically deaf mice.•Electromyography verified that the ultrasound-elicited motor response was neuromodulatory rather than a startle reflex.