NHS Trials Ultrasound Brain Chip for Mental Health
The Facts
The UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) is launching a £6.5M (US$8M) trial to test a groundbreaking brain-computer interface that uses ultrasound technology to modify brain activity. The device is being developed by US-based nonprofit Forest Neurotech.
The device, designed to be implanted beneath the skull but outside the brain, maps neural activity and delivers targeted ultrasound pulses to activate specific neuron clusters, offering potential treatment for conditions including depression, addiction, OCD, and epilepsy.
The Spin
Narrative A
Brain implants like deep brain stimulation have already shown promise in treating severe depression, making this UK study another step toward curing debilitating neurological diseases. As traditional treatments often fail, these procedures offer renewed hope to patients, many of whom choose to live with such implants 24/7. Given these successes, further study into brain implants is crucial to refine the treatment for broader application.
Narrative B
At first glance, brain chips seem like an incredible technological advancement, especially given their health-focused promotion. However, the public has seen enough technological advancement, and consumed enough dystopian cinema, to know there are serious risks involved in invasive new gadgets. From brain chips to virtual reality headsets, the pros and cons of technology's use must be laid out in full before humans are encouraged to use them.