New research examines whether targeted sound waves can reduce persistent hallucinations.
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have begun testing a new approach that could help people with schizophrenia who continue to hear voices despite taking prescribed medication. The study examines whether carefully directed ultrasound waves can reduce auditory hallucinations without surgery, implanted devices, or other invasive procedures.
Auditory hallucinations occur when someone hears voices or sounds that other people cannot hear. The experience affects more than 70% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Although medications can help manage symptoms, roughly 40% of those affected continue to experience ongoing hallucinations. For some, the voices can be frightening, distracting, and disruptive to everyday activities, making it difficult to concentrate, sleep, or maintain relationships. The new clinical trial, led by Karuna Subramaniam, PhD, a psychiatry professor at the University of California, San Francisco, is the first human study of its kind to examine repeated treatments using low-intensity focused ultrasound. The research focuses on a deep brain area called the caudate, which is part of a larger structure known as the striatum. Scientists believe this area may play a role in the brain activity connected to hearing voices.
The treatment uses a wearable device developed by Attune Neurosciences. Unlike procedures that require surgery or placing equipment inside the brain, the technology sends low-intensity ultrasound waves through the skull to reach a selected area. Researchers hope that directing these waves toward the caudate may change brain activity linked to hallucinations. The trial plans to include up to 12 participants. Each person will receive five days of active ultrasound treatment, followed by five sessions using a comparison method. The comparison sessions deliver ultrasound energy but do not focus it on a specific brain area. A break between the two treatment periods will help researchers compare the results and determine whether the targeted approach provides benefits beyond the experience of receiving treatment.
Participants will undergo brain scans before and after treatment. These scans will allow researchers to examine whether the ultrasound sessions change communication between the caudate and other parts of the brain. The research team will also track the severity of hallucinations, changes in other psychiatric symptoms, mood, and any unwanted effects. Another major part of the study involves determining whether repeated sessions are safe and comfortable for participants.
Early reports from people already taking part in the trial have offered some encouraging signs. One participant described being surprised that the voices had temporarily disappeared, explaining that the mind felt unusually quiet. Another person, who previously experienced voices throughout the day, reported that they became much softer following treatment. That participant described the voices as sounding farther away rather than seeming to come from nearby. Although one voice remained briefly noticeable, the overall experience felt more peaceful. The person also reported that the voices appeared to be fading.
These accounts are promising, but researchers caution that early experiences involving a small number of people cannot establish whether the treatment works over time. Additional participants and further testing will be needed to determine how long any improvements last and whether the same results can be achieved consistently.
The UCSF project is not the only recent research exploring ultrasound as a possible treatment for symptoms associated with schizophrenia. A separate study published in the journal npj Acoustics examined a different brain target using another focused ultrasound system. Researchers at NYU Langone Health directed treatment toward an area called the globus pallidus in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Their findings showed a modest but noticeable decrease in delusions among participants.
The two studies examine different brain regions and symptoms, but both reflect growing interest in using sound waves to reach specific areas of the brain without surgery. If future research confirms the early findings, focused ultrasound could eventually provide another option for people who receive limited relief from existing treatments.
Sources:
Researchers test noninvasive ultrasound treatment for schizophrenia-related hallucinations
UCSF launches trial of wearable ultrasound device to treat schizophrenia hallucinations
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