Focused ultrasound probes thalamic roles in arousal and attention in volunteers
Published in Brain/Neurology, Journals, Noninvasive, Tools.
Published October 27, 2026.
A study published October 26 in Communications Biology uses low-intensity focused transcranial ultrasound to investigate distinct functions of neighboring thalamic regions in healthy people.
Amber R. Hopkins and colleagues studied 27 volunteers, including two women, using a counterbalanced design in which participants underwent sham stimulation and stimulation targeting either the central thalamus or pulvinar. They completed tasks measuring vigilance and visuospatial attention before and after stimulation.
Central thalamic stimulation slowed responses and increased attention lapses during the vigilance task, consistent with reduced arousal. Pulvinar stimulation instead reduced and slowed responses to visual stimuli on the opposite side, suggesting a more spatially specific attentional disruption.
The findings support focused ultrasound as a research tool for testing the functions of deep brain structures. They do not demonstrate a treatment for sleep disorders, impaired consciousness or attention disorders. The small, predominantly male healthy-volunteer sample and task-specific outcomes limit generalization. Further research is needed to establish reproducibility and therapeutic relevance across broader populations.
Source: Hopkins et al., Communications Biology, October 26, 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-026-10637-7.