Transcranial focused ultrasound to the posterior cingulate cortex modulates default mode network and subjective experience: an fMRI pilot study.
Brian Lord, Joseph L. Sanguinetti, Lisannette Ruiz, Vladimir Miskovic, Joel Segre, Shinzen Young, Maria E Fini, John J B Allen
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2024 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1392199 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Healthy subjects |
| Intervention | Transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) |
| Duration | 30 min after sonication |
| Topics | Default mode network Meditation |
| Keywords | FMRI Neuromodulation Non-invasive brain stimulation Transcranial focused ultrasound |
| Citations | 28 |
| Key findings | TFUS targeted at the posterior cingulate cortex reduces DMN functional connectivity and alters subjective experience, including increased mindfulness and temporary changes in sense of self and time. |
Abstract
Transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) is an emerging neuromodulation tool for temporarily altering brain activity and probing network functioning. The effects of TFUS on the default mode network (DMN) are unknown. The study examined the effects of transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) on the functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN), specifically by targeting the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Additionally, we investigated the subjective effects of TFUS on mood, mindfulness, and self-related processing. The study employed a randomized, single-blind design involving 30 healthy subjects. Participants were randomly assigned to either the active TFUS group or the sham TFUS group. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans were conducted before and after the TFUS application. To measure subjective effects, the Toronto Mindfulness Scale, the Visual Analog Mood Scale, and the Amsterdam Resting State Questionnaire were administered at baseline and 30 min after sonication. The Self Scale and an unstructured interview were also administered 30 min after sonication. The active TFUS group exhibited significant reductions in functional connectivity along the midline of the DMN, while the sham TFUS group showed no changes. The active TFUS group demonstrated increased state mindfulness, reduced Global Vigor, and temporary alterations in the sense of ego, sense of time, and recollection of memories. The sham TFUS group showed an increase in state mindfulness, too, with no other subjective effects. TFUS targeted at the PCC can alter DMN connectivity and cause changes in subjective experience. These findings support the potential of TFUS to serve both as a research tool and as a potential therapeutic intervention.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on default mode network, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin Healthy volunteers | 2012 | Within-subjects, placebo-controlled, task-free fMRI study | n = 30 |
| The effects of psilocybin and MDMA on between-network resting state functional connectivity in healthy volunteers | 2014 | Placebo-controlled study | |
| Ketamine Decreases Resting State Functional Network Connectivity in Healthy Subjects: Implications for Antidepressant Drug Action Healthy subjects | 2012 | Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover rsfMRI challenge | |
| Antidepressants Normalize the Default Mode Network in Patients With Dysthymia Subjects with dysthymic disorder and healthy control participants aged 18 to 53 years | 2013 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Functional Connectivity Measures After Psilocybin Inform a Novel Hypothesis of Early Psychosis Healthy volunteers | 2012 | Within-subject, placebo-controlled experimental study | n = 15 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Deconstructing the self and reshaping perceptions: An intensive whole-brain 7T MRI case study of the stages of insight during advanced investigative insight meditation. Neuroimage 2025
- Mindfulness, cognition, and long-term meditators: Toward a science of advanced meditation. Imaging Neuroscience 2025
- Enhancing Equanimity With Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: A Novel Framework for Mindfulness Interventions. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging April 1, 2025
- Toward a neuroscience of consciousness using advanced meditation. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews February 1, 2026
- A network for self-transcendence derived from patients with brain lesions bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) March 27, 2026
and 4 more in the library
Cites 18
- A default mode of brain function Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 16, 2001
- The Brain's Default Mode Network Annual Review of Neuroscience May 4, 2015
- The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation Journal of Clinical Psychology 2006
- Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 23, 2012
- REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics Pharmacological Reviews June 20, 2019
and 13 more in the library