Ultrasound Breakthrough Enables Non-Invasive Deep โBrain Stimulation
University College London researchers have developed a groundbreaking ultrasoundโค system capable of precisely modulating activity in โdeep brain circuits without the need for invasive surgery. This technology, detailed in a recent Nature Communications publication (Martin, et al., 2025), represents a โmeaningful leap forward โin both neuroscience research and potential โclinical treatments โฃfor โneurological and psychiatric disorders.
The systemโฃ utilizes transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) and, in โinitialโค experiments, demonstrated sustained โdecreases in visual cortex activity for up to 40 minutes following stimulation. Importantly, โคtheseโข changes occurred without participants consciously perceiving any alterations in โtheir vision. This highlights theโ system’s ability to induce lasting changesโ in brain function at a neural level.
Key advantages of thisโ new approach include:
Non-Invasive: Unlike current deepโ brain stimulation (DBS) methods, this technology avoids โคthe risks associated with surgery.
Precision Targeting: The โsystem allows forโข highly targeted โขmodulation of specific brain circuits.
Reversible & Repeatable: Stimulation isโ safe, reversible,โฃ and canโ be repeatedโฃ as โฃneeded.
Real-Time Monitoring: Compatibility with fMRIโ allows researchersโ to โขmonitor the effects of stimulation in real-time, paving the wayโ forโ personalizedโ therapies and closed-loop neuromodulation.
Professor bradleyโข Treeby (UCL Medical Physics and Biomedicalโ Engineering) describes โthe advance as a “paradigmโฃ shift in neuroscience,” opening opportunities to study causalโข relationships in deep brain circuits previously only accessible through surgery. โค Clinically,the technology holdsโ promiseโข for treating conditions like Parkinson’sโ disease,depression,and essential tremor.
Recognizing โคthe clinical potential, the research team has founded NeuroHarmonics, โคa UCL spinout company, โขto develop a portable,โ wearable version of โthe system. Dr.Eleanorโค Martin (UCL Medical โคPhysics andโข Biomedicalโ Engineering) emphasizes the system’s design for compatibility with fMRI, โฃenabling exciting possibilities for personalizedโ therapies. Dr. โIoana Grigoras (Nuffield Department of Clinicalโ Neurosciences, University of Oxford) โขhighlights the potentialโข for treating โขneurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, โwhere deep brain โregions are notably affected.
While further research โis needed to โfully understand the underlying mechanisms, this study marks a significant โฃmilestoneโค in the development of โsafe, effective, and โtargeted brain stimulation technologies.
This research was supported byโ the Engineering โฃand Physical โคSciences Research council (EPSRC), Wellcome, and the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedicalโข Researchโฃ Center.
Source: University Collegeโฃ London (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/)
Journal Reference: Martin, E., โ et al.โ (2025). โUltrasound โsystem for precise neuromodulation of human deep brain circuits.natureโ Communications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63020-1