New Ultrasound Helmet Promises Advances in Deep Brain Research
Deep structures in our brain, such as the basal ganglia and thalamus, significantly shape our behaviors. When things go wrong in these areas, it can lead to neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease or depression.
Although these structures play a crucial role, studying and treating them is tricky, mainly due to their deep locations within the brain.
In a recent study, researchers introduced a device that could change the landscape of non-invasive brain treatment. This innovative ultrasound helmet not only modulates brain circuits without the need for surgery but does so with remarkable precision.
The technology marks a significant advancement for both neuroscience research and clinical applications, according to Bradley Treeby, a biomedical engineer at University College London (UCL). He explains that scientists can now non-invasively explore causal links in deep brain circuits that were once only reachable through surgical means.
Treeby also emphasizes the potential of this technology to transform treatments for neurological issues like Parkinson’s disease, depression, and essential tremor by precisely targeting brain circuits crucial to these conditions.
This new system builds on previous techniques, such as transcranial ultrasound stimulation and MRI-guided focused ultrasound, addressing some of their limitations, like low precision and the need for stabilizing skull screws.
The helmet’s design allows it to target brain areas that are 1,000 times smaller than what traditional ultrasound can achieve, and 30 times smaller than similar technologies that focus on deeper brain regions.
This is accomplished using a 256-element array located inside the helmet, which emits focused ultrasound beams to either increase or decrease neuronal activity within targeted areas.
The device also includes a soft face mask that stabilizes the user’s head, enhancing the accuracy of the ultrasound beams.
In their study, researchers tested the helmet on seven human volunteers, specifically targeting their lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a small part of the thalamus responsible for visual processing.
During one experiment, participants watched a flashing checkerboard while the helmet directed ultrasound beams at their LGN. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed a notable surge in activity in the visual cortex, indicating successful stimulation of the LGN.
This ability to monitor in real-time is a key feature, says Eleanor Martin, a physicist and engineer in UCL’s Biomedical Ultrasound Group. The design of the system allows for simultaneous fMRI compatibility, which opens doors to closed-loop neuromodulation and personalized therapies.
Another part of the study illustrated the helmet’s lasting effects, with changes in visual cortex activity persisting for 40 minutes post-stimulation.
Interestingly, while subjects did not consciously notice any changes in vision during the tests, fMRI scans showed significant and lasting shifts in neural activity at the targeted locations.
Treeby points out that this ability to precisely modulate deep-brain structures without surgery signifies a groundbreaking shift in neuroscience, providing a safe and reversible method for exploring brain function and developing targeted therapies.
Although further research is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms at play, the results from this study already represent a significant breakthrough.
Previously, such precise neuromodulation was only possible through invasive approaches, creating new possibilities for patients with specific conditions, according to co-author and clinical neuroscientist Ioana Grigoras from the University of Oxford, who expresses excitement about the technology’s applications in treating disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
The study has been published in Nature Communications.
