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Darmani G, Ramezanpour H, Sarica C, Annirood R, Grippe T, Nankoo JF, Fomenko A, Santyr B, Zeng K, Vetkas A, Samuel N, Davidson B, Fasano A, Lankarany M, Kalia SK, Pichardo S, Lozano AM, Chen R. Individualized non-invasive deep brain stimulation of the basal ganglia using transcranial ultrasound stimulation. Nat Commun 2025; 16:2693. [PMID: 40108143 PMCID: PMC11923056 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57883-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2025] [Indexed: 03/22/2025] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazaleh Darmani
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | | | - Can Sarica
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Regina Annirood
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Talyta Grippe
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Anton Fomenko
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Brendan Santyr
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ke Zeng
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Artur Vetkas
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nardin Samuel
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Benjamin Davidson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Alfonso Fasano
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Milad Lankarany
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Suneil K Kalia
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Andres M Lozano
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Robert Chen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
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