The University of Plymouth is playing a key role in a £6.5million study that will test whether a device that uses ultrasound technology to stimulate the brain can help improve people's mood and reduce depression.
The project - led by the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust - will test the efficiency of the Forest 1 device, developed by Los Angeles-based company Forest Neurotech.
Unlike current technologies such as deep brain stimulation, which can only target a single area of the brain, this new technology can interact with the whole brain with pinpoint accuracy.
The small device is placed on the surface of the skin of the head and can measure patients' brain activity and stimulate different parts of it, all using ultrasound.
By doing this, the team hopes to leverage Forest 1's unique capabilities to measure and modulate neural activity across different mood states, enabling the development of a predictive model of affective brain states.
The ultimate vision is for Forest 1 to become a transformative neurotechnology for a range of therapeutic applications.
Aimun Jamjoom, Consultant Neurosurgeon and study lead, said:
"The opportunity to work on this study is hugely exciting as it has potential to make a real difference in improving the lives of people with mental health issues. We'll be researching the safety of the device, and looking to see if we can improve symptoms of depression. It holds the promise of delivering a life-changing therapy for people with depression and anxiety who don't respond to medication."
At the University of Plymouth,
Professor Elsa Fouragnan will be helping with experimental design related to mood regulation, appropriate ultrasound and neuroimaging protocols, which parts of the brain to target, and clinical outcomes.
It builds on her team's pioneering research, carried out in the University's
Brain Research & Imaging Centre (BRIC), into the potential applications and benefits of interfacing with the brain with ultrasound.
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