Can sound waves ease depression symptoms?

Depression affects more than 280 million people worldwide. For many, standard treatments like medication and talk therapy can make a real difference, but not always, and not quickly. Relief may take weeks, months, or never come at all. For those with moderate to severe or treatment-resistant symptoms, progress is often slow or difficult to sustain. Even among patients receiving adequate care, only about 30% reach full recovery or remission. The rest either experience partial improvement or no response at all.

Researchers at the University of Arizona recently studied a non-invasive technique that uses sound waves to stimulate specific areas of the brain. The intervention did not replace medication or psychotherapy, but aimed to explore whether a different kind of stimulation could support symptom improvement.

The method is part of a broader field called neuromodulation, which uses targeted stimulation to influence nerve activity. Traditionally delivered through magnetic pulses or electrodes implanted in the brain, neuromodulation is evolving into less invasive and more targeted forms. The study's results raise new possibilities about how sound-based stimulation could fit into the future of depression treatment.

Early results with LIFU technology

In the University of Arizona trial, for example, the research team used Openwater’s low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) device to deliver focused ultrasound to the brain. The study enrolled 20 participants diagnosed with moderate to severe depression. At the time of enrolment, half were taking medication related to depression and anxiety, and all were instructed to maintain their existing medication and therapy regimens throughout the study.

Using brain imaging, the team identified the left anterior-medial prefrontal cortex, an area linked to emotional regulation, as the treatment target. Participants received eleven 10-minute sessions over three weeks using a wearable ultrasound headset. The total treatment time across the study was under two hours for each study participant.

By the end of the study, most participants showed measurable improvements in their symptoms. Between 45-60% of participants showed a clinically meaningful reduction in depression severity, and 35% met the criteria for clinical remission.

Participants also reported less repetitive negative thinking, improved psychological and physical well-being, and greater satisfaction with their surrounding environments. The study reported no significant adverse effects.

Other research teams are also expanding the scientific evidence base for focused ultrasound in mental health. A recent double-blind study at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School used MRI-guided LIFU to target the amygdala, a deep brain region closely linked to emotion and mood regulation, in patients with depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

In that trial, 29 participants received daily focused ultrasound treatments over three weeks and reported significant improvements in symptoms, with no serious adverse events. Published in Molecular Psychiatry, the research demonstrates that non-invasive ultrasound can safely modulate deep brain circuits involved in mental health conditions.

What sets LIFU apart from other neuromodulation tools

Neuromodulation has traditionally relied on tools like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS). While both have demonstrated clinical effectiveness, they have limitations that can affect accessibility. TMS typically requires daily in-clinic sessions over several weeks and has limitations in targeting. DBS involves surgery to implant electrodes in the brain, is expensive, and carries the risks associated with brain surgery.

Unlike TMS, LIFU can non-invasively reach deeper structures, such as the amygdala and subgenual cingulate cortex, without surgery or implants. The system enables image-guided targeting and allows researchers to tailor stimulation based on each participant’s brain anatomy. Some LIFU systems, including the one used in the Arizona study, are portable and require no sedation or medications, potentially widening access.

Stereotactic ultrasound arrays used in some platforms allow researchers to precisely target specific brain regions for each individual. This may enable personalised treatments tailored to an individual’s neural circuitry and symptoms. While still investigational, LIFU could complement existing interventions, particularly for patients who have not responded to standard care. As the technology advances, LIFU stands out as a versatile, innovative tool poised to transform non-invasive, precision brain therapies.

A starting point for broader research

While these early studies have centred on depression, focused ultrasound technology is rapidly gaining attention for its potential in a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions. Preliminary research indicates its applicability in treating Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, chronic pain, and certain types of cognitive decline, highlighting its versatility as a neuromodulation tool.

That said, current studies are limited by small sample sizes, short follow-up periods and, in some cases, the absence of sham-controlled designs. To move the field forward, larger, double-blind, sham-controlled trials with extended follow-up are needed to confirm the safety, effectiveness, and best practices for using focused ultrasound in depression and other disorders.

As the technology matures, researchers are actively exploring how focused ultrasound can be adapted for additional clinical applications, potentially transforming the treatment landscape for complex brain disorders. For clinicians and researchers in neuroscience and psychiatry, LIFU and similar innovations present a compelling opportunity to reimagine how non-invasive technologies could transform the treatment of complex and historically challenging brain disorders.

About the author

Aaron Timm, Openwater CEO, has held executive leadership roles at digital health, medical device, and medical imaging companies. He has led all aspects of commercial strategy, corporate development, and business operations to scale start-ups into high-growth, multinational companies. Timm has extensive experience navigating regulatory compliance, patent law, and product-scale supply chain. In addition to chief executive roles at Synarc and WorldCare Clinical, he has served as general counsel of both private and publicly traded companies. Timm earned degrees from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School and is a member of the State Bar of California.