Groundbreaking brain implant using ultrasound technology to boost patients’ mood enters NHS trial, potentially revolutionizing treatment of conditions such as depression and epilepsy.
The National Health Service (NHS) is set to trial a groundbreaking brain implant that uses ultrasound to boost patients’ mood. The device, developed by the US-based non-profit Forest Neurotech, has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of conditions such as depression, addiction, OCD, and epilepsy.
How it Works
The device maps brain activity and delivers targeted pulses of ultrasound to “switch on” clusters of neurons. This is achieved through a less invasive technique that uses ultrasound to read-out and modify activity, rather than inserting electrodes into specific locations in the brain. The device can detect tiny changes in blood flow to produce 3D maps of brain activity with a spatial resolution of about 100 times that of a typical fMRI scan.
Potential Benefits
The trial aims to test the safety and tolerability of the device on approximately 30 patients. If successful, it could lead to a life-changing solution for patients who suffer from treatment-resistant conditions. According to Aria‘s programme director, Jacques Carolan, neurotechnologies have the potential to help a much broader range of people than previously thought.
Ethical Considerations
The rapid advances in brain-computer-interface technology raise significant ethical issues around data ownership and privacy, as well as the possibility of enhancement and neuro-discrimination. Experts warn that these innovations could be fast-moving from a technical perspective but lag behind on addressing neuroethical issues.
Next Steps
The NHS trial will run for three and a half years, with the first eight months focused on securing regulatory approval. If successful, Forest hopes to move into a full clinical trial for conditions such as depression. The study is part of Aria‘s £69m precision neurotechnologies programme, which includes research on neural robots for epilepsy treatment, genetic engineering of brain cells, and lab-grown brain organoids.
Key Players
The trial will be led by Aimun Jamjoom, a consultant neurosurgeon at the Barking, Havering and Redbridge university hospitals NHS trust. The University of Plymouth is also collaborating on the project, with Prof Elsa Fouragnan serving as a neuroscientist on the team.
Conclusion
The Forest 1 trial marks an exciting development in brain-computer-interface technology. With its potential to revolutionize the treatment of conditions such as depression and epilepsy, this breakthrough has the power to change lives. As the NHS trial progresses, it will be essential to address the ethical considerations surrounding neurotechnologies and ensure that they are used for the benefit of patients.
