Stimulating the brain with sound | Kim Butts Pauly and Raag Airan

This podcast episode from the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford University discusses the use of ultrasound technology for non-invasive brain stimulation and drug delivery. The interview features two researchers, Kim Butts Pauly and Raag Airan, who explain how focused ultrasound can stimulate neurons by creating subtle strains in brain tissue and how it can be used to deliver drugs to specific brain regions. Raag Airan details an upcoming clinical trial using ultrasound to deliver ketamine to treat chronic pain. The researchers highlight the potential of ultrasound to treat various neurological and psychiatric disorders, offering a less invasive alternative to existing methods like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The discussion emphasizes the potential of ultrasound to revolutionize the treatment of brain disorders by enabling targeted drug delivery and precise neuromodulation.