6 replies to this topic

[Futurist1000]

Does anyone know anything about this? Apparently ultrasound in conjunction with a magnetic field can alter brain functioning. This looks like it could potentially reach almost any area of the brain, and it would have very good targeting accuracy.

Does anyone know enough about this to potentially make a home device?

Ultrasound Brain

Ultrasound brain manipulation patent

"A new method of stimulating active tissue is proposed by propagating ultrasound in the presence of a magnetic field. Since tissue is conductive, particle motion created by an ultrasonic wave will induce an electric current density generated by Lorentz forces."

"Focused ultrasound has been used to modify electrical currents in neuronal tissue. This has been done by a combined application of a magnetic field and an ultrasonic field to neuronal and other tissue in the body."

"Also, there is a problem in using TMS together with fMRI, because TMS produces a magnetic signal that interferes with the magnetic field and consequently with the fMRI image."

"FUP is able to reach brain tissue much deeper, 2 or more centimeters into the brain, for example 2-12 cm. The FUP can also produce a focus of energy that will be only 0.5-2 mm. in diameter, as opposed to 2-3 cm. attainable by TMS. "

"Low frequencies, below 300 Hz, will decrease the firing of the centers and inhibit or disrupt the neuronal circuits. High frequencies, 500 Hz to 5 MHz, will produce activation of firing of neuronal centers and activation of the circuits. In either case, the FUP will modify physiological properties in the circuits."


"Repeated application of the FUP to neuronal circuits will cause long-term or permanent changes to the circuits. The modification of the circuits using FUP will be used for the treatment of psychiatric, neurological and neuroendocrine disorders."

[Futurist1000]

Some new developments. I'm not quite sure what the targeting accuracy of this new method is, but I think it is greater than transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Ultrasound Shown to Exert Remote Control of Brain Circuits

In a twist on nontraditional uses of ultrasound, a group of neuroscientists at Arizona State University has developed pulsed ultrasound techniques that can remotely stimulate brain circuit activity. Their findings, published in the Oct. 29 issue of the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) One, provide insights into how low-power ultrasound can be harnessed for the noninvasive neurostimulation of brain circuits and offers the potential for new treatments of brain disorders and disease.

Newswise — In a twist on nontraditional uses of ultrasound, a group of neuroscientists at Arizona State University has developed pulsed ultrasound techniques that can remotely stimulate brain circuit activity. Their findings, published in the Oct. 29 issue of the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) One, provide insights into how low-power ultrasound can be harnessed for the noninvasive neurostimulation of brain circuits and offers the potential for new treatments of brain disorders and disease.

When asked about the potential of using his groups’ methods to remotely control brain activity, Tyler says: “One might be able to envision potential applications ranging from medical interventions to use in video gaming or the creation of artificial memories along the lines of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in ‘Total Recall.’ Imagine taking a vacation without actually going anywhere?”

In the past sony patented something based on this idea. However, the science wasn't really done yet.

IMAGINE movies and computer games in which you get to smell, taste and perhaps even feel things. That's the tantalising prospect raised by a patent on a device for transmitting sensory data directly into the human brain - granted to none other than the entertainment giant Sony.

The technique suggested in the patent is entirely non-invasive. It describes a device that fires pulses of ultrasound at the head to modify firing patterns in targeted parts of the brain, creating "sensory experiences" ranging from moving images to tastes and sounds. This could give blind or deaf people the chance to see or hear, the patent claims.

While brain implants are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the only non-invasive ways of manipulating the brain remain crude. A technique known as transcranial magnetic stimulation can activate nerves by using rapidly changing magnetic fields to induce currents in brain tissue. However, magnetic fields cannot be finely focused on small groups of brain cells, whereas ultrasound could be.

Edited by hrc579, 30 October 2008 - 02:50 AM.

[Futurist1000]

Looks like a company is being formed to move ahead with this technology. Ultrasonic neuromodulation may be able to non-invasively activate or deactivate almost any region of the brain. It would have deeper penetration capabilities than transcranial magnetic stimulation. It would also have a much greater targeting accuracy transcranial magnetic stimulation (1 mm or less, compared to several centimeters for TMS). They previously mentioned in the recent paper about potentially being able to induce protein specific resonances using optimal acoustic frequencies. So that would allow even further brain chemistry optimization.

Here's something from this 25.1 MB powerpoint presentation.

The SynSonix Vision for Ultrasonic Neuromodulation Technology

+Therapeutic Neurostimulation (replace DBS/VNS/rTMS)
neuropsychiatric treatment; neurological treatment; trauma management

+Rapid Response Medical Devices

+Military Defense Applications

+Brain-Computer Interfaces

+Entertainment Industry

+Neurodiagnostics

I'm not sure if the FDA would ever approved ultrasound for entertainment. Some studies have shown that ultrasound can induce certain sensory experiences.

Ultrasonic Neuromodulation lab has some interesting pictures.

Several neuromodulation (i.e. deep brain stimulation; DBS) techniques have received great attention due to their therapeutic utility in the management of many neurological/psychiatric diseases and disorders such as Parkinson’s, coma, epilepsy, stroke, depression, schizophrenia, addiction, neurogenic pain, cognitive/memory dysfunction and many others. Further, the field of neural control has recently been ignited by experiments demonstrating the optical control of individual neurons in intact brain circuits using light-gated ion channels and transporters. Despite the promise of vagal nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and DBS, several concerns regarding their therapeutic applications can be raised, including their relatively invasive nature, which often requires the surgical implantation of stimulating electrodes. Although offering the greatest spatial and temporal control, light-gated ion channels require the introduction of exogenous genes.

Using a variety of optical probes, we are developing methods for modulating ion channel activity, neuronal activity, and synaptic transmission using low-intensity, low-frequency ultrasound (LILFU), which is capable of noninvsively penetrating the skull in a focused manner. Our approach enables us to quickly screen specific transducers and/or stimulus waveform characteristics, which modulate neuronal activity more or less efficiently. To date, we have identified several waveforms capable of directly modulating the activity of voltage-gated ion channels and synaptic transmission. The use of ultrasound waves to modulate neuronal activity will be of great interest to the basic and clinical neuroscience communities since it may alleviate the need for surgically implanted electrodes.

Listen to Dr. Tyler’s Science Studio Interview (10.9MB)

[Dr. Bond]

To the first question: Yes, a specific strata, power, size of combined beams and locale of area to be treated absolutely allows working coordination between electromagnetism and ultrasound. The results of each others assistance is astounding. Bone is no longer a problem nor is the infamous Blood Brain Barrier. Of some additional important note however: The Behavior Research Institute located in San Antonio, Texas is the ONLY science organization in the United States that maintains the legal rights to do what here of late, at least a dozen universities and/or private laboratories have recently published with some fan fair that they just 'discovered' what ultrasound can actually achieve and that the 'magic combo' can do even better. William Rogers along with several biopsychologist colleagues put together [invented] a scientific process in 2003 referred to as 'electromagnetic brain animation'. It is now fairly well know, at least in the Western Hemisphere. It's been 5 years since the seminal 'discovery' took place and the Behavior Research Institute new exactly what they had. At this current stage the 'electromagnetic brain animation generator' is fully functional after having undergone 22 clinical trials. BRI holds all the proper patents and licensing and have faithfully adhered to all government oversight requirements necessary for full public utilization. A minimum of three [3] fully ready EBA initiators will be ready and available for full clinical use by no later than January 2010 at the Center for Non-Invasive Brain Treatment located at the Southwest Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. The only thing that might redirect is that BRI is offering exclusive long term leasing rights to the highest bidder. The bidding will stay open until January 10th, 2009. BRI has signed on to 'non-disclosure contracts with all bidders; however, I can tell you there's hardly any of you who would not recognize the names of the conglomerates. In concluding, I want to say I applaud all those under paid hard working scientists who work in the field of brain treatment. It is a noble endeavor.

[PreZer12]

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[Dr. Bond]

It has been awhile but much has happened: http://www.center-fo.../span></strong>

[Thell]

Science Highlight: February 11, 2015

Attacking Alzheimer’s with Ultrasound

NIH-funded study reveals a new technique to decrease Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice

For the first time, researchers have reversed some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in mice using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided focused ultrasound.

MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound has been shown to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which allows for more effective delivery of drugs to the brain. In order to accomplish this, researchers use a microbubble contrast agent. The microbubbles vibrate when they pass through the ultrasound beam, temporarily creating an opening in the BBB for the drugs to pass through. In addition, this combination of ultrasound and microbubbles has been shown to increase the number of new neurons and the dendrite length.

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