C. elegans: Sensing the low-frequency profile of amplitude-modulated ultrasound

•C. elegans senses low-frequency profiles of amplitude-modulated ultrasound.•The nematodes respond to rectangular- and sinusoidal-modulated waves in similar ways.•The MEC-4 ion channel dominates the behavioral responses of C. elegans to ultrasound.•Double modulations help to reduce the ultrasonic power while maintaining the high response rate.•The results here inspire new protocols for ultrasonic neuromodulation.