IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-57883-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Individualized non-invasive deep brain stimulation of the basal ganglia using transcranial ultrasound stimulation

Author

Listed:
  • Ghazaleh Darmani

    (University Health Network
    University of Toronto)

  • Hamidreza Ramezanpour

    (York University)

  • Can Sarica

    (University Health Network
    University of Toronto)

  • Regina Annirood

    (University Health Network)

  • Talyta Grippe

    (University Health Network)

  • Jean-Francois Nankoo

    (University Health Network)

  • Anton Fomenko

    (University of Toronto)

  • Brendan Santyr

    (University of Toronto)

  • Ke Zeng

    (University Health Network
    Beijing Normal University)

  • Artur Vetkas

    (University of Toronto)

  • Nardin Samuel

    (University of Toronto)

  • Benjamin Davidson

    (University of Toronto)

  • Alfonso Fasano

    (University Health Network
    University of Toronto
    University Health Network)

  • Milad Lankarany

    (University Health Network)

  • Suneil K. Kalia

    (University Health Network
    University of Toronto)

  • Samuel Pichardo

    (University of Calgary)

  • Andres M. Lozano

    (University Health Network
    University of Toronto)

  • Robert Chen

    (University Health Network
    University of Toronto
    University Health Network)

Abstract

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) offers precise, non-invasive neuromodulation, though its impact on human deep brain structures remains underexplored. Here we examined TUS-induced changes in the basal ganglia of 10 individuals with movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease and dystonia) and 15 healthy participants. Local field potentials were recorded using deep brain stimulation (DBS) leads in the globus pallidus internus (GPi). Compared to sham, theta burst TUS (tbTUS) increased theta power during stimulation, while 10 Hz TUS enhanced beta power, with effects lasting up to 40 min. In healthy participants, a stop-signal task assessed tbTUS effects on the GPi, with pulvinar stimulation serving as an active sham. GPi TUS prolonged stop-signal reaction times, indicating impaired response inhibition, whereas pulvinar TUS had no effect. These findings provide direct electrophysiological evidence of TUS target engagement and specificity in deep brain structures, suggesting its potential as a noninvasive DBS strategy for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Suggested Citation

  • Ghazaleh Darmani & Hamidreza Ramezanpour & Can Sarica & Regina Annirood & Talyta Grippe & Jean-Francois Nankoo & Anton Fomenko & Brendan Santyr & Ke Zeng & Artur Vetkas & Nardin Samuel & Benjamin Davi, 2025. "Individualized non-invasive deep brain stimulation of the basal ganglia using transcranial ultrasound stimulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57883-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57883-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57883-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-57883-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57883-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.