Focused Ultrasound

Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation

Neurological and psychiatric disorders often involve imbalances in the activity of specific brain regions. While invasive treatments such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) can restore this balance, they carry surgical risks and are not suitable for all patients. This has driven the search for safe, non-invasive alternatives.

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is an emerging method that uses ultrasound – commonly known from medical imaging – at safe, diagnostic-level intensities to modulate brain activity without damaging tissue. Unlike other non-invasive techniques such as TMS or tDCS, TUS offers millimeter-scale precision and can reach deep brain targets that were previously inaccessible. Early studies indicate that it can both increase and decrease neural excitability, depending on the applied stimulation parameters.

 

Our Research

We are currently investigating how TUS can be used in combination with MRI scanning to safely and precisely influence brain activity in both superficial and deep regions. This involves measuring the immediate effects of stimulation on brain function, understanding how different technical settings alter these effects and developing approaches to separate true neuromodulatory changes from possible measurement artefacts such as auditory interference.

The goal of these initial studies is to establish a robust methodological foundation for future preclinical and clinical work. Once validated, we plan to expand our research to examine brain networks involved in pain processing, heart–brain coupling as well as neurological and psychiatric disorders. In this way, we want to unlock new possibilities for targeted, non-invasive brain stimulation in both research and therapy.

 

This research is funded by the Max Planck Society and the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

 

Collaborators