Noninvasive ultrasound BCI improves consciousness in 13 of 24 patients

Researchers including the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences presented a noninvasive ultrasound brain-computer interface that beams focused ultrasound into deep brain circuits instead of implanting electrodes. In a preliminary study with Kunming Medical University, 13 of 24 patients with chronic disorders of consciousness improved after 12 sessions of 20 minutes over four weeks.

• 13 of 24 patients with disorders of consciousness showed clear improvement
• Protocol: three 20-minute sessions weekly for four weeks
• One patient regained consciousness after 30 days of treatment
• Epilepsy and depression work remains at the intervention research stage