A team of researchers from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has presented preliminary results of an experiment in which focused ultrasound waves were used to stimulate deep brain regions. The technique aims to restore consciousness in patients suffering from chronic disorders caused by trauma, strokes, and other neurological conditions. Unlike traditional approaches requiring surgical intervention and electrode implantation, the new technology is entirely non-invasive: ultrasound pulses are directed from outside the skull to pre-determined target points.
Thalamus as a key target and the role of MRI in navigation
The central element of the method is the precise determination of the stimulation area using magnetic resonance imaging. The thalamus was chosen as the main target—a brain structure that plays a crucial role in processing sensory information, cognitive functions, and maintaining consciousness. Dysfunction of the thalamus often leads to persistent disorders of consciousness where patients are unable to interact with the external world. MRI allows researchers to localize this region with high precision and direct ultrasound pulses directly into it, bypassing outer brain layers and avoiding damage to surrounding tissue.
Preliminary study: 24 patients and treatment protocol
The experiment was conducted in cooperation with Kunming Medical University. The study included 24 patients with chronic disorders of consciousness. The treatment protocol involved ultrasound stimulation sessions lasting 20 minutes, administered three times a week for four weeks. Thus, each patient received an average of 12 treatment sessions. Following the four-week course, 13 out of 24 participants—more than half—showed improvements in consciousness-related behavior. Specific indicators and rating scales used to determine this improvement were not disclosed in the available data, indicating the preliminary nature of the work.
Non-invasiveness as a major advantage over existing methods
Existing methods of deep brain stimulation, notably deep brain stimulation (DBS), require open neurosurgical surgery to implant electrodes. This carries risks of infection, bleeding, and other surgical complications, as well as the need for prolonged postoperative observation. Focused ultrasound eliminates these limitations: the patient undergoes no surgery, and stimulation is delivered remotely. This makes the technology potentially accessible to a broader range of patients, including those for whom surgery is contraindicated due to health status.
Limitations and the path to clinical application
Despite encouraging preliminary results, the researchers emphasize that the work is pilot in nature. To confirm the efficacy, safety, and long-term effects of the technique, larger-scale controlled clinical trials with randomization and placebo controls are required. At this stage, it remains unclear how persistent the recorded improvement in consciousness is, whether it is sustained after stimulation ceases, and what side effects might appear with prolonged use. Nevertheless, as the authors note, the method opens up new perspectives in the treatment of brain injuries and could form the basis for developing non-invasive therapeutic protocols in neurology.
