Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation as an Emerging Treatment for Substance use Disorder: Promise and Precaution | Current Addiction Reports | Springer Nature Link

Neuromodulation has gained attention as an alternative non-pharmacological approach for treating substance use disorders (SUDs). Non-invasive brain stimulation methods, particularly those targeting cortical regions which are part of wider reward-processing networks, have been widely investigated, with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) showing modest reductions in craving [1]. Dysfunction of subcortical regions within these reward networks, such as the ventral striatum and ventral tegmental area, however, are thought to play a more significant role in the development and maintenance of SUDs [2]. These deeper brain regions have historically been inaccessible by non-invasive neuromodulation and could only be reached with deep brain stimulation (DBS) which requires surgery to the skull and brain [1, 3]. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) – also referred to as low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (LIFU or tFUS) – is an emerging non-invasive neur

saved by

• Gabby Chan