Innovative Use of Focused Sound Waves and Holography for Brain Circuit Control

Researchers from NYU Langone Health and institutions in Switzerland have unveiled a groundbreaking technique utilizing focused ultrasound waves combined with holographic patterns to precisely activate neural circuits in living brains. This novel approach, demonstrated in animal models, involves projecting interferent sound waves into specific geometrical patterns—similar to creating 3D images with light—allowing targeted stimulation of brain regions without invasive procedures. Using a helmet equipped with 512 ultrasound emitters, scientists can generate complex holographic waveforms that focus energy onto defined neural networks, leading to activation detectable through fluorescence imaging.

This study provides the first visual evidence that ultrasound waves can be shaped into precise holograms to activate interconnected brain circuits. The implications are significant, opening pathways for noninvasive treatments of neurological and mental health disorders by modulating circuits rather than damaging tissue. Unlike high-intensity ultrasound treatments used to ablate neurons in Parkinson’s disease, this lower-intensity method aims to temporarily activate neural pathways, potentially enabling safer and more efficient neuromodulation.

Led by co-senior authors Dr. Shy Shoham at NYU and Dr. Daniel Razansky in Switzerland, the research highlights how targeting distributed circuits enhances sensitivity and efficacy, reducing the power needed to stimulate deep brain regions. This technology leverages interference patterns to focus sound energy, creating 3D stimulations that can influence multiple interconnected areas simultaneously.

The team’s setup uses a fiber scope and high-resolution imaging to monitor neuronal activation in real time, confirming that specific patterns of ultrasound can modulate entire neural networks. Their findings suggest potential for translating this into human treatments, offering new prospects for noninvasive neuromodulation therapies. Future research aims to activate more complex and deeper circuits, with ongoing clinical trials already exploring similar ultrasound applications.

This innovative method paves the way for safer, targeted brain therapies, ultimately contributing to better management of neuropsychiatric conditions with minimal invasiveness.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-technique-focused-holograms-brain-circuits.html