First-in-human study: focused ultrasound to deep brain targets reduces hallucinations in schizophrenia
A UCSF and Attune Neurosciences preprint reports low-intensity ultrasound to the striatum was safe and eased hallucination severity.
Researchers from UCSF and Attune Neurosciences report the first human study of low-intensity focused ultrasound aimed at the striatum (the nucleus accumbens and caudate) in people with schizophrenia. Participants had significantly less severe hallucinations after active stimulation, and brain scans showed changes in how the striatum connects with temporal regions. Treatment was well tolerated.
This is a small, early preprint, not yet peer-reviewed. Still, reaching deep brain structures without surgery is a key promise of ultrasound neuromodulation.
Learn more: Focused ultrasound · fMRI