Sound waves aimed at the brain could quiet tics without surgery
NCT ID NCT07699783
First seen Jul 13, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 1 trial tests whether low-energy focused ultrasound can safely and temporarily reduce tics in people with Tourette syndrome. Twenty participants aged 16 and older receive ultrasound to deep brain regions or the motor cortex, or a sham treatment, across four sessions. The goal is to see if this non-invasive approach can modulate the brain circuits involved in tic generation.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- focused ultrasound stimulation
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a non-invasive, precise way to reduce tics in Tourette syndrome without surgery or medication.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early phase 1 trial with only 20 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The effects are temporary (up to 60 minutes) and the approach is highly technical, requiring exact targeting.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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