Stanford‘s NeuroCircuit initiative, led by Amit Etkin and Stephen Baccus, attempts to locate brain circuits responsible for mental illness and develop better, noninvasive TMS and ultrasound treatment techniques. Their stated challenge: “A major hurdle that has prevented our understanding of cause and effect in the brain is the inability to directly manipulate brain activity and connections in a precise and flexible manner throughout the brain.”

In their lab, TMS is used to stimulate one part of the brain while researchers look for reactions elsewhere. The hope is to map the relationship between brain circuits and identify the circuits that underlie mental health conditions.

Etkin is trying to improve TMS so that it can reach deeper brain structures and be more targeted. He believes that this is required to effectively treat depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Baccus and colleagues are developing a way to use ultrasound for brain stimulation. They are trying to direct it deep within the brain at a frequency that can stimulate nerves without harming them. If the team is successful, ultrasound could be a more targeted and focused tool than TMS for remotely stimulating circuits that generate mental illness.