Ultrasound zaps brain to speed up waking from anesthesia

NCT ID NCT07221539

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether using low-intensity focused ultrasound to stimulate specific brain areas can help people regain consciousness faster after being sedated with common anesthetics. Researchers will monitor brain activity with fMRI while 168 healthy adults are lightly anesthetized. The goal is to better understand how the brain works under anesthesia and whether ultrasound can speed up recovery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsation (LIFUP)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could point toward a way to help people wake up faster from anesthesia or even from unconscious states.
What could go wrong
This is an early-stage study in healthy volunteers, not patients. It is designed to measure brain activity, not to treat any condition, so direct medical benefits are uncertain.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Michigan

    RECRUITING

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States