Researchers in the UK have developed an innovative wearable ultrasound device that could revolutionize the treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions without the need for invasive surgery. The device, resembling a helmet, utilizes transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) to precisely target deep areas of the brain, offering new hope for individuals suffering from conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, depression, and essential tremor.
Created by scientists at University College London and the University of Oxford, this groundbreaking technology marks a significant advancement over traditional deep-brain stimulation (DBS), which involves surgically implanted electrodes. The helmet operates non-invasively, allowing for the modulation of brain activity without causing damage or requiring surgical intervention. The device’s ability to influence brain regions with high precision is particularly notable, targeting areas that are 1,000 times smaller than those affected by standard ultrasound systems.
The helmet is equipped with 256 ultrasound emitters that direct focused beams to specific brain locations. This targeting is enhanced by a custom-designed plastic face mask that stabilizes the user’s head within an MRI scanner, ensuring accurate stimulation based on individual skull imaging. The precise nature of this targeting is crucial, as it prevents unintended stimulation of adjacent brain regions that are functionally distinct.
In initial trials, researchers successfully demonstrated the device’s capabilities by stimulating the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a brain structure involved in visual processing. Functional MRI scans revealed increased activity in the visual cortex during stimulation, as well as lasting effects that persisted for at least 40 minutes post-stimulation, indicating the potential for this technology to create enduring changes in brain function.
While the helmet is still undergoing testing, the implications for clinical practice are significant. The technology could potentially transform the treatment landscape for various neurological and psychiatric disorders, offering an alternative to current surgical methods. Notably, the device has not reported any side effects, and researchers are developing a portable version through a spinout company, NeuroHarmonics, aimed at making the technology more accessible.
Further studies are necessary to fully comprehend how TUS affects brain function, but this helmet represents a promising step forward in non-invasive brain therapy. By enabling precise modulation of deep brain structures, it opens new pathways for understanding brain activity and developing targeted therapeutic interventions.
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