Scientists have been awarded around £1.2million to investigate whether a person's pain or consciousness levels might influence the impact of transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) on their brain.
Best known for its use in the imaging of unborn babies, researchers are now repurposing ultrasound as a non-invasive and safe technique that can be used to change how the brain functions.
Studies carried out in the University of Plymouth's Brain Research & Imaging Centre (BRIC) have previously shown that targeted ultrasound treatment can bring about changes within the brain for around two hours, enough time for clinicians to apply a number of other interventions.
This, researchers believe, has the potential to help people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, or mental health disorders including addiction and depression.
The new project is expanding on the existing research by exploring whether the effects of targeted ultrasound are altered when a person is experiencing differing levels of pain, consciousness or cognitive load.
With scientists able to focus ultrasound on precise regions of the brain, the research will also assess if multiple areas can be targeted at the same time.
Through this, they hope to pave the way for future clinical interventions, in particular looking at ways to enhance the effectiveness of combining cognitive behavioural therapy and brain stimulation.
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