Ultrasound Brain Stimulation Shows Delayed Pain Relief in Small Human Study

Overview

• A peer-reviewed study reported that targeting the brain’s dorsal anterior cingulate with low-intensity ultrasound led to a drop in reported pain that appeared only after the session.
• Participants did a cold-gel hand task and rated pain, and those who received ultrasound reported greater relief 28 to 55 minutes after stimulation compared with a sham group.
• The randomized experiment involved 32 healthy volunteers and used MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to track brain activity and chemistry during the protocol.
• Scans showed stronger connectivity between the targeted region and pain-modulating areas and a change in the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA within the target.
• Researchers call this a proof of principle in healthy people and plan clinical trials to test dosing, durability, safety, and whether the method helps those living with chronic pain.