UK Plans Human Trial of World’s ‘Most Advanced’ Brain Chip for Anxiety, Depression

Depression and anxiety are two mental health issues that ultrasound may help treat.

Scientists are investigating the direct manipulation of brain activity by ultrasound in a new National Health Service (NHS) trial.

BCI technology, which will be positioned beneath the skull, is used in this innovative treatment technique.

According to the Guardian, a £6.5 million clinical experiment with 30 patients will assess the new brain-computer interface technology’s efficacy and safety. The UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) is providing funding for this trial.

The Application of Ultrasound

The trial is scheduled to assess a device developed by Forest Neurotech, a non-profit organization in the United States.

This novel gadget uses ultrasound to both monitor and affect brain activity, unlike the majority of existing BCI implants that require electrodes to be inserted directly into the brain.

First, the apparatus watches and logs brain activity patterns. The gadget then specifically stimulates particular neuronal groups using concentrated ultrasonic pulses.

These specific pulses basically “stimulate” or “activate” the selected neuronal groupings. You might think of it as a little prod to get them moving more.

Participants in the NHS experiment will be those who have had a particular kind of brain surgery in which a section of the skull is momentarily removed in order to lower intracranial pressure. This scenario enables the device to be tested by researchers without requiring further surgical procedures.

Under the skull, ultrasonography equipment may accurately identify minute variations in blood flow to the brain. As a result, extremely comprehensive 3D maps of brain activity can be produced, with a resolution that is far higher than that of conventional fMRI Scans.

Additionally, targeted ultrasonic pulses can be delivered via the implant to cause neurons to be mechanically stimulated.

In March, The Trial will Begin

For two hours, the implant will be placed right over the participant’s skull defect on their scalp during the trial.

The effectiveness of the gadget in regulating individuals’ motivation and mood will be ascertained by researchers through a thorough evaluation of their brain activity.

This trial, which will start in March, will go for more than three years. It has been reported that the first eight months will be spent securing regulatory permission. Following the successful conclusion of this stage, Forest Neurotech plans to move forward with a comprehensive clinical trial that focuses on a particular ailment, like depression.

However, There are several safety issues with ultrasound use. Because tissues can absorb ultrasound energy, they may become heated.

To reduce the chance of tissue heating while still attaining the intended therapeutic impact, experts stress the importance of properly balancing the ultrasonic application’s duration and intensity.

Because the Forest 1 device can simultaneously affect brain activity in many regions, Aria says it is the “most advanced” brain-computer interface in the world.

Many patients who suffer from illnesses including epilepsy, anxiety, and depression could benefit from this technology. Instead of being limited to certain, isolated regions of the brain, many disorders are typified by disturbances in the intricate networks of brain activity.

“Neurotechnologies can help a much broader range of people than we thought. Helping with treatment resistant depression, epilepsy, addiction, eating disorders, that is the huge opportunity here. We are at a turning point in both the conditions we hope we can treat and the new types of technologies emerging to do that,” Jacques Carolan, Aria’s program director, told the Guardian.

Article Link: interestingengineering.com