Neuromodulation effects of low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound in human, a systematic review focusing on motor and sensory functions.
Heng-Chen Ho, Wen-Shiang Chen, Ming-Yen Hsiao
PMID 41316352WHAT IT FOUND
Low-intensity focused ultrasound changed brain excitability in a dose-dependent way.
Specific settings suppressed motor activity during stimulation, while others boosted it for 30 minutes after. The effects were on lab measures, not function. No clinical improvement was shown.
Key findings
01Motor cortex stimulation produced two consistent, opposite effects depending on settings: high-frequency pulses suppressed activity during stimulation, while low-frequency pulses increased activity for up to 30 minutes after.
02Sensory and pain regions showed parameter-specific modulation. Stimulation of the posterior insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex reduced pain perception, while anterior thalamus stimulation raised the thermal pain threshold.
03The treatment was generally safe in these short-term studies. No major adverse events occurred, and mild symptoms like scalp sensations or sleepiness affected less than 10% of participants and resolved on their own.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The review reports on physiological changes in brain excitability, not on clinical function or patient outcomes. A change in motor evoked potentials does not mean a patient moved better. Results were inconsistent across studies even with similar parameters. This variability is attributed to individual differences in skull thickness, brain structure, and baseline cortical excitability. Most studies measured effects only during or immediately after stimulation. Only four studies followed participants for days to months, so long-term safety and durability of effects are unknown. The review includes only healthy adults or small clinical samples (e.g., Parkinson's disease). It does not provide evidence for stroke rehabilitation or other common therapy populations. Auditory effects may have confounded the results. Some studies used masking, but it remains unclear whether the brain changes were due to ultrasound or to participants hearing the stimulation.
Declared interests
The work was funded by the National Science and Technology Council. No commercial conflicts of interest are declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret changes in motor evoked potentials as evidence that focused ultrasound improves movement or function. The review reports physiological excitability shifts, not clinical rehabilitation outcomes, and the suggested stroke and pain applications are hypotheses, not tested treatments.
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