Ultrasound system for precise neuromodulation of human deep brain circuits

Eleanor Martin, Morgan Roberts, Ioana F. Grigoras, Olivia Wright, Tulika Nandi, Sebastian W. Rieger, Jon Campbell, Tim Boer, Ben T. Cox, Charlotte J. Stagg () and Bradley E. Treeby ()
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Eleanor Martin: University College London
Morgan Roberts: University College London
Ioana F. Grigoras: University of Oxford
Olivia Wright: University College London
Tulika Nandi: University of Oxford
Sebastian W. Rieger: University of Oxford
Jon Campbell: University of Oxford
Tim Boer: University of Oxford
Ben T. Cox: University College London
Charlotte J. Stagg: University of Oxford
Bradley E. Treeby: University College London

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract We introduce an advanced transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) system for precise deep brain neuromodulation, featuring a 256-element helmet-shaped transducer array (555 kHz), stereotactic positioning, individualised planning, and real-time fMRI monitoring. Experiments demonstrated selective modulation of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and connected visual cortex regions. Participants showed significantly increased visual cortex activity during concurrent TUS and visual stimulation, with high cross-individual reproducibility. A theta-burst TUS protocol produced robust neuromodulatory effects, decreasing visual cortex activity for at least 40 min post-stimulation. Control experiments confirmed these effects were specific to the targeted LGN. Our findings reveal this system’s potential to non-invasively modulate deep brain circuits with unprecedented precision and specificity, offering new avenues for studying brain function and developing targeted therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders, with transformative potential for both research and clinical applications.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63020-1

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