Ultrasonic Brain Stimulation

This is a research project funded by the National Institutes of Health (National Institute for General Medical Sciences). We are developing a new form of non-invasive brain stimulation using low-intensity focused ultrasound.

The same technique that has been used for decades to image developing fetuses is capable of mechanically stimulating nervous tissue. Intriguingly, unlike present-day electrical and magnetic stimulation, ultrasound is capable of penetrating deeper brain regions that are relevant for many mood and movement disorders.

The long-term goal of this research is to provide focal, safe, and effective treatments for psychiatric and neurological disorders.