Researchers have gained new understanding of how the brain controls movement using both overt motor control and brain-machine interface (BMI) control. Their findings provide insight into the distinct neural processes involved in BMI control compared to natural movement. Key Facts: Rhesus monkeys were trained to control a cursor using either overt arm movements or a …
Electrical neural interfaces are unlocking new possibilities for studying, restoring, and augmenting brain functions. These devices provide direct communication pathways to connect the nervous system with the external world. Recent innovations in neural electrode design, electronics, wireless transmission, integration of electrical and optical modalities, and neural data processing are rapidly advancing the capabilities of electrical …
Focused ultrasound is emerging as a potentially revolutionary new tool for precisely stimulating the brain without surgery. This novel approach could transform how we diagnose and treat everything from depression and OCD to Alzheimer’s and stroke. Key Facts: Focused ultrasound uses precise sound waves to stimulate small regions deep in the brain without any incisions. …
Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) are emerging devices that connect the human brain to computers and machines, enabling an unprecedented two-way flow of information and control. BMIs offer extraordinary new capabilities but also present profound ethical dilemmas we must confront. Key Facts: BMIs acquire brain signals, analyze them via algorithms, and translate them into commands that control …
Low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) is an exciting new non-invasive brain stimulation technology that allows precise neuromodulation of deep brain structures without surgery. Early research shows LIFU can safely and reversibly modulate targeted areas of the brain using sound waves, opening doors for understanding and treating psychiatric illnesses. Key Facts: LIFU uses acoustic energy to …
A new study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry provides promising evidence that focused ultrasound stimulation of the prefrontal cortex can alleviate depressive behaviors in mice by suppressing inflammatory responses. Key facts: Researchers stimulated the prefrontal cortex of mice with focused ultrasound for 30 minutes. Mice treated with ultrasound showed less depressive behaviors compared to sham …
New research demonstrates that repeated focused ultrasound treatments can have antidepressant-like effects in rats. The non-invasive technique was able to improve performance on a common test of depressive behaviors. While not a silver bullet solution, focused ultrasound represents an exciting potential alternative for depression treatment. Key Facts: Focused ultrasound (FUS) uses targeted sound waves to …
Our brains contain around 100 billion neurons communicating through an intricate web of connections. This complex circuitry controls everything we think, feel, and do. But sometimes things can go wrong, leading to neurological disorders like epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, depression and Alzheimer’s. An exciting new approach called transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is showing great promise as …
Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an exciting noninvasive brain treatment technology that is revolutionizing how we approach neurological and psychiatric diseases. This incisionless technique uses precisely targeted sound waves to therapeutically stimulate or ablate brain tissue. The Big Picture: FUS uses focused, high-intensity sound waves to precisely treat diseased brain regions without incisions. It has FDA …
Invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow for direct communication between the brain and external devices, offering immense potential for restoring lost functions and even enhancing brain capabilities. Recent advances are bringing this emerging technology closer to widespread clinical use. Invasive BCIs involve surgically implanted electrodes to record from or stimulate the brain. This allows for much …
