Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – Scientists from the University College London (UCL) and the University of Oxford have formed an ultrasound device capable of accurately stimulating deep regions of the brain with no need for surgery. This gives exciting new opportunities for neurological studies and the treatment of conditions similar to Parkinson’s disease.
For years, scientists have been in search of non-invasive methods to influence brain function—ways that could improve our understanding of neural processes and support treatments for neurological disorders.
A key brightspot is transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS), which has recently demonstrated the ability to modulate the activity of neurons—the brain’s main communication cells—by sending gentle mechanical pulses that impact the way these cells send signals.
But the present TUS technologies have had challenges reaching deeper brain structures with the precision being a must to pinpoint specific areas. Traditional systems mostly impact broader regions than intended, this restricts their value for specific neuromodulation.
Findings of the research, which appeared in Nature Communications, introduces an ultrasound device capable of targeting deep brain regions non-invasively, which is a first. It is able to focus on regions roughly 1,000 times smaller than what conventional ultrasound devices can carry out, and 30 times smaller than the deep-brain ultrasound tools of prior occasions.
The innovative device brings in 256 elements arranged within a specialized helmet providing focused ultrasound beams to specific regions of the brain, modulating neuronal activity either upward or downward. A soft plastic face mask is added as well to stabilize the head, paving the way for more accurate targeting of the ultrasound waves.
The scientists conducted research of the system on seven human volunteers by placing it within an area of the thalamus referred to as the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a small central brain structure that has the role of relaying sensory and motor signals is engaged in visual processing.
For the initial trial, participants were shown a flashing checkerboard pattern, that transmitts visual signals to the brain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during ultrasound stimulation indicated a marked rise in activity within the visual cortex, this was verification that the LGN was targeted more specifically.
A subsequent experiment had pointed to ultrasound stimulation making sustained reductions in visual cortex activity, remaining for at least 40 minutes, The showed the potential of the technology to pave the way for long-lasting modifications in brain function.
Despite the facts that the participants did not consciously know of any alterations in their visual experience during the experiments, brain imaging demonstrated marked changes in neural activity. The long-term goal is to leverage these effects for therapeutic purposes, that include the alleviation of hand tremors.
Professor Bradley Treeby, the study’s senior author from UCL Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, pointed out that the breakthrough creates new possibilities for both neuroscience research and medical treatment. He further indicated that for the first time, researchers can non-invasively investigate causal connections within deep brain circuits that previously could only be examined through surgical procedures.
“Clinically, this new technology could transform treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders like Parkinson’s disease, depression, and essential tremor, offering unprecedented precision in targeting specific brain circuits that play key roles in these conditions.
“The ability to precisely modulate deep brain structures without surgery represents a paradigm shift in neuroscience, offering a safe, reversible, and repeatable method for both understanding brain function and developing targeted therapies.”
When looking past its research applications, the system could pave the way for novel clinical treatments. Right now, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is utilised for the management of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, however it consists of invasive surgery and carries significant risks. The new ultrasound-based system gives a non-invasive alternative with similar accuracy, possibly paving the way for clinicians to look into therapeutic targets in the brain prior to surgery—or possible be a replacement to surgical methods entirely.
Recognizing this therapeutic promise, several members of the research team have launched NeuroHarmonics, a UCL spinout company focused on creating a portable, wearable version of the system. The company’s mission is to deliver precise, non-invasive deep brain therapy for both clinical interventions and broader therapeutic purposes.
