Mass. researchers test transcranial ultrasound to explore consciousness
Why it matters: The experiments could one day help scientists find non-invasive ways to treat depression, PTSD, brain tumors and other conditions.
Driving the news: MIT Lincoln Labs, a U.S. Department of Defense-funded research and development center in Lexington, recently received a low-intensity focused ultrasound from the company Openwater — the latest tool of its kind it'll use in its ongoing consciousness research.
Lincoln Labs and labs on campus plan to launch experiments in the next year using the device on humans to analyze which neurons fire to stimulate vision and, ultimately, pain, pending university approval, says Daniel Freeman, a research scientist at Lincoln Labs.
The intrigue: There's the goal to analyze how it could help understand or treat PTSD and mood disorders in veterans, and then there's the existential question that stumps neuroscientists — how does our human experience arise from brain activity?
"I mean, some matter moves around in your head, and you feel something," Freeman tells Axios. "That remains a total mystery, and it's barely being studied."
How it works: The Openwater device goes on someone's head like a headband, and the device directs the sound beams to hit a specific part of the brain.
It's not the only transcranial focused ultrasound around, but it has a unique design and an ease with which the software processes MRI scans to direct the beams to the right spot.
Zoom out: Transcranial ultrasounds have already been found to reduce micro clots in long-COVID patients (per an Openwater experiment) and even opiate addiction cravings.
Openwater's leaders foresee the device one day being used by doctors to inject treatments into specific areas of the brain without surgery or using sound beams to treat certain brain conditions.
What they're saying: "It's a great way to non-invasively aim this beam deep into the brain to affect research or even for medical treatments," says Scott Smith, vice president of community development at Openwater.
What's next: Lincoln Labs plans to start with healthy subjects in its experiments with the Openwater device, and their findings may have larger implications for people with mood disorders or other conditions, including veterans with PTSD.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hims & Hers Q2 2025: What You Need to Know Ahead of Earnings
Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS) reports Q2 2025 earnings after U.S. markets close on Monday, August 4. Analysts expect revenue of around $552 million, up 75% YoY, and adjusted EPS near $0.15, roughly up 15% YoY. Despite the volatility, shares are up 154% YTD, pushing the forward P/E to roughly 57. Subscriber growth remains the core engine investors care about. Subscribers increased 38% in Q1, reaching 2.4 million. Weight-loss GLP-1 offerings are a swing factor, but Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) ended its partnership on 23 Jun 2025, citing illegal mass compounding and deceptive marketing, which sent Hims down 30%. Analysts estimate that up to half of Hims' projected weight-loss revenue could be at risk. Investors need clarity on FDA scrutiny, formulary access, and whether compounded semaglutide margins can hold. Marketing spend, revenue per average user, and progress on the ZAVA integration will also be closely watched. Management guides FY25 revenue of $2.32.4 billion and low-teens EBITDA margins. Any uplift to those guides or clean regulatory commentary could keep momentum intact. But with valuation stretched, even a top-line beat may disappoint if churn ticks up or compliance costs bite. Q2 will test whether the telehealth disrupter can scale responsibly before regulators step in. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Axios
3 hours ago
- Axios
Mass. researchers test transcranial ultrasound to explore consciousness
A team of MIT researchers is exploring the depths of our consciousness — with help from ultrasounds for your brain. Why it matters: The experiments could one day help scientists find non-invasive ways to treat depression, PTSD, brain tumors and other conditions. Driving the news: MIT Lincoln Labs, a U.S. Department of Defense-funded research and development center in Lexington, recently received a low-intensity focused ultrasound from the company Openwater — the latest tool of its kind it'll use in its ongoing consciousness research. Lincoln Labs and labs on campus plan to launch experiments in the next year using the device on humans to analyze which neurons fire to stimulate vision and, ultimately, pain, pending university approval, says Daniel Freeman, a research scientist at Lincoln Labs. The intrigue: There's the goal to analyze how it could help understand or treat PTSD and mood disorders in veterans, and then there's the existential question that stumps neuroscientists — how does our human experience arise from brain activity? "I mean, some matter moves around in your head, and you feel something," Freeman tells Axios. "That remains a total mystery, and it's barely being studied." How it works: The Openwater device goes on someone's head like a headband, and the device directs the sound beams to hit a specific part of the brain. It's not the only transcranial focused ultrasound around, but it has a unique design and an ease with which the software processes MRI scans to direct the beams to the right spot. Zoom out: Transcranial ultrasounds have already been found to reduce micro clots in long-COVID patients (per an Openwater experiment) and even opiate addiction cravings. Openwater's leaders foresee the device one day being used by doctors to inject treatments into specific areas of the brain without surgery or using sound beams to treat certain brain conditions. What they're saying: "It's a great way to non-invasively aim this beam deep into the brain to affect research or even for medical treatments," says Scott Smith, vice president of community development at Openwater. What's next: Lincoln Labs plans to start with healthy subjects in its experiments with the Openwater device, and their findings may have larger implications for people with mood disorders or other conditions, including veterans with PTSD.
New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
I've traveled the world to study brain health — here are 2 secrets to protecting against dementia
I'm going the extra mile for myelin. I travel the world to deliver neurological care in places with limited resources. Along the way, I have learned several important lessons about protecting brain health and preventing brain disease. My perspective was forever altered on one of my first trips to Uganda for the Department of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Advertisement I met a 14-year-old boy unable to move the left side of his body. Our medical team discovered the teen had undiagnosed and undetected HIV since birth. I was surprised to learn that HIV could be associated with stroke because it is an advanced feature of the virus that is infrequent in the US now. That knowledge changed my perceptions and attitudes towards brain health. Here is some wisdom from my visits to Uganda and Ghana, including two simple steps to halt and reverse brain damage. US vs the world The biggest difference in brain health challenges in the US and places like Ghana is simply access to care. Advertisement 3 Dr. Jaydeep Bhatt, director of the Division of Global Health for the Department of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, reveals two major lessons for preventing brain disease. Most Americans can see their primary care physician to screen for risk factors leading to brain disease. Most Ghanaians do not have this level of access, so they are silently living with many risk factors. That leads to brain disease manifesting as a stroke or some other preventable brain disorder. A major, under-the-radar risk factor One risk factor for dementia that doesn't get a lot of attention is undetected hearing loss. Hearing loss is common with age. The problem is that good hearing is crucial for feeding the language centers, primarily located in the left hemisphere of the brain, with the proper information to produce language. Advertisement If hearing loss is not detected in a timely fashion, there might be improper funneling of information to this language area, increasing the risk of memory loss and dementia. Screening timetables Patients should be screened for brain-related conditions such as cognitive decline and stroke risk at least once a year. A preventative primary care physician will measure blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol levels. Cardiovascular brain damage is tricky because it often has no immediate warning signs. High blood pressure is known in medicine as a 'silent killer' because you don't feel it as you're walking around. Advertisement 3 Bhatt visited Ghana and Uganda to study brain health. High blood pressure causes arteries and veins to narrow, which decreases nourishment and blood flow to the brain. This leads to changes detectable by modern MRI. Thankfully, these changes are in silent regions of the brain, so you will not have a disability. However, over time, memory loss, dementia and other harmful brain diseases can develop. High cholesterol, along with high blood pressure, contributes to these very same changes because it leads to blockages in important arteries that feed your brain with blood. Physical inactivity fuels high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors. Fortunately, brain damage from poor cardiovascular health can be stalled and even reversed. The traditional risk factors of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking are addressed by two behaviors — diet and exercise. Two ways to protect brain health When I traveled to Uganda and Ghana, one aspect of their diet that surprised me was their natural portion control. Advertisement The average Ghanaian and Ugandan meal is half or one-third the size of what we would expect of a meal in the US. American restaurants offer huge portions based on the idea that bigger is better, especially because it's more value for your money. But these larger meal sizes are just not meant for one person. So much of brain health is linked to the quality of your diet, including the amount you consume in one sitting. 3 The traditional risk factors of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking are addressed by two behaviors — diet and exercise. Advertisement Smaller portions and a lack of snacking between meals are inherent to cultures in Uganda and Ghana. Just by making more modest food choices at home, you can lessen your risk of brain disease. The right type of diet is not specific to one culture. Dietary approaches to stop hypertension or Mediterranean diets are rich in fruits and whole grains with low salt and less saturated fat. Exercise, which can occur in many different forms, is also essential to brain health. Advertisement No matter what neurological disease you may have heard of, the rate and severity of that disease are lessened with regular exercise. Exercise crosses cultures — I've seen it manifested in different ways as I've traveled the world and delivered neurological care. The other aspect of the culture in Uganda and Ghana that really struck me — in a good way — was the lack of alcohol and cigarette use. Drinking less alcohol and smoking less are well-established behaviors that lead to better brain health. The vast majority of both populations do not regularly partake in these activities. Advertisement Follow these recommendations to protect your brain as you age — and consult your physician with any concerns. Dr. Jaydeep Bhatt is the director of the Division of Global Health for the Department of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
