A study led by Wynn Legon at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute demonstrates that low-intensity focused ultrasound can non-invasively reduce pain by targeting the insula, a deep brain region involved in pain processing. Published in the journal Pain, the study involved applying heat to participants’ hands while directing focused ultrasound at their insula, resulting in a modest reduction in pain perception and physical stress responses like heart rate variability. This technique, which uses sound waves to alter nerve cell activity without surgery, could potentially offer a non-addictive alternative to pain management and improve overall quality of life.
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