The treatment employed ultrasound technology to deliver sonic stimulations to the thalamus, the brain’s information processing hub, marking the first time a noninvasive, stimulatory approach has been used to treat severe brain trauma. The technique has been dubbed low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsation. The sonic stimulation is delivered by a device approximately the size of coffee cup saucer. Researchers placed the device on the side of the patient’s head and activated it 10 times for 30 seconds per activation during a 10 minute time span.
Prior to receiving the treatment, the patient displayed minimal signs of consciousness. The day after receiving treatment, the patient’s responsiveness had improved measurably. Three days post-treatment, the patient was fully conscious and displayed full language comprehension.
“It’s almost as if we were jump-starting the neurons back into function,” said Martin Monti, PhD, the study’s lead author and a UCLA associate professor of psychology and neurosurgery. “Until now, the only way to achieve this was a risky surgical procedure known as deep brain stimulation, in which electrodes are implanted directly inside the thalamus. Our approach directly targets the thalamus but is noninvasive.”
Further study on the method is needed to determine whether the treatment can be used with consistent efficacy.
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