New ultrasound technique to help treat brain injuriesRSS Feed

The treatment of acquired brain injuries could be aided by a new technique developed by scientists in the US.

A system of non-invasive ultrasound therapy could be used to treat brain injury patients after researchers at Arizona State University found the approach was successful in laboratory tests.

The technique, published in the journal Neuron today (June 9th), showed that pulsed ultrasound stimulated action potentials in intact motor cortex in mice and elicited motor responses comparable to using implanted electrodes.

Lead author Yusuf Tufail said: "We used ultrasound alone to directly stimulate action potentials and drive intact brain activity without doing any kind of surgery.

"We were surprised to find that ultrasound activated brain waves in the hippocampus known as sharp-wave ripples."

These brain activity patterns are known to be responsible for certain behavioural states and the formation of memories, he added.

Ultrasound therapy can also be used to treat depression, which a recent study by a team from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle found to be prevalent in patients who had suffered a traumatic brain injury.

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