A new ultrasound device that can reach deep areas of the brain without surgery has been developed by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of Oxford.
This new technology could help scientists better understand how the brain works and treat conditions like Parkinson’s disease, depression, and essential tremor.
For years, researchers have been searching for a way to influence brain activity without needing to do surgery.
One promising method is called transcranial ultrasound stimulation, or TUS. It uses gentle sound waves to change how brain cells communicate.
However, current TUS systems have not been able to reach deep brain areas with enough accuracy. Often, they end up affecting larger parts of the brain than intended.
This new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, introduces an advanced ultrasound system that solves this problem.
It can now precisely target small regions deep in the brain, about 1,000 times smaller than older systems. This is the first time such accuracy has been achieved without surgery.
The device includes 256 ultrasound parts placed inside a special helmet. These parts work together to send focused sound waves to very specific brain regions. A soft face mask helps keep the head still so the ultrasound waves hit the exact spot.
In their research, the scientists tested the new system on seven volunteers. They focused on a small part of the brain called the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), located deep in the thalamus. The LGN is important for processing what we see.
In the first test, volunteers looked at a flashing black-and-white checkerboard while the ultrasound was used. Brain scans showed increased activity in the visual part of the brain, meaning the ultrasound had reached its target.
In a second test, the brain showed less activity in the same area for at least 40 minutes after the ultrasound. This suggests the effects can last a while and may help in future treatments.
Even though the volunteers didn’t notice any changes in what they were seeing, their brain activity clearly changed. This means the technology could eventually be used to treat conditions like hand tremors or other symptoms of brain disorders.
Professor Bradley Treeby from UCL said that this is a big step forward for both research and medical treatment. Scientists can now study brain areas that were once only reachable through surgery.
Clinically, the technology could replace or assist deep brain stimulation (DBS), which currently requires surgery and has risks. This new method is non-invasive, meaning it doesn’t involve cutting into the brain, and could help doctors safely try treatments without surgery.
The team has also created a company called NeuroHarmonics to build a portable version of this technology, making it easier to use in hospitals and clinics.
The device also works with brain scanners like fMRI, allowing doctors to see how the brain reacts in real time. This can help create personalized treatments where the brain’s response helps guide therapy.
The researchers say that more studies are needed to fully understand how ultrasound changes brain activity. Still, this is an exciting breakthrough. Dr Ioana Grigoras from Oxford said the technology could be especially helpful for diseases like Parkinson’s, where deep brain areas are affected the most.
The research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Wellcome Trust, and the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre.
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The study is published in Nature Communications.
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