Using ultrasound to visualize brain stimulation for anxiety treatment
Official title: Seeing Sound: Visualizing the Target of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11071365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to use sound waves to target a specific part of the brain called the amygdala, which is important for anxiety, to help improve treatments for anxiety disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $41,396 |
| NIH project number | 1F30MH136802-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11071365 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders who are seeking alternative treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with anxiety disorders who are not eligible for brain stimulation therapies or those who do not reside in the study's geographic area may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) to precisely target the amygdala, a brain region involved in anxiety disorders. By employing a novel imaging technique called magnetic resonance acoustic radiation force impulse (MR-ARFI), the study aims to visualize the ultrasound focus in the human brain for the first time. This approach seeks to improve the accuracy of brain stimulation therapies, which are currently limited by imprecision. The research will involve both phantom models and in-vivo imaging to validate the targeting of the amygdala, potentially leading to more effective treatments for anxiety disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more precise and effective treatments for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of ultrasound for brain stimulation is a novel approach, similar techniques have shown promise in animal models, but this specific application in humans is untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spivak, Norman Mitchel — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Spivak, Norman Mitchel
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.