Could ultrasound brain stimulation be a power boost for mindfulness?
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA
Explore how ultrasound brain stimulation works and 7 benefits (according to the latest studies). Plus, why it has the potential to change your mindfulness practice.
Wouldn’t it be so nice if every time you sat down to meditate, you immediately dropped in and stayed present for the entire time? (Yeah, we think about this too.)
Sadly, there’s no way to magically make this happen, but a new therapy—ultrasound brain stimulation—has the potential to help you get closer.
Ultrasound brain stimulation is a noninvasive technique that uses gentle sound waves to stimulate specific areas of the brain that can help with attention, emotional balance, and stress reduction. People have done it for many reasons, including increasing mindfulness, improving their mental health, and treating neurological diseases and movement disorders.
It’s important to note though that this method’s still very much in the early stages and researchers are learning more about it every day. It’s not a fact that this technique boosts mindfulness. But it does show promise for its ability to influence our learning abilities which then in turn could help us be more mindful.
What is ultrasonic brain stimulation?
Ultrasound brain stimulation, or transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS), uses low-intensity sound waves to stimulate parts of the brain to improve how they function. Areas that control emotional balance are a major focus, which is why it might be effective for increasing mindfulness. (Although this hasn’t been deeply studied as of yet.)
Unlike other brain stimulation methods, ultrasound is very precise, and can reach deeper areas that play big roles in emotional regulation, attention, and even how we experience calmness. And because it doesn’t require ongoing commitment or medication, eventually it could be more accessible to the average person — as of right now it’s still not widely available for people to use.
Studies on effects of ultrasound brain stimulation
This new technique shows a lot of promise but it’s still very new — researchers are discovering more and more about it every day. In general, the brain is very complex and it usually takes a while for it to change. But some experts do believe that one day, ultrasound brain stimulation could offer benefits like mental clarity lasting for days, or even weeks.
With all this in mind, here are five possible effects ultrasound brain stimulation could have on our brains:
Improved focus, concentration, and memory: Studies show promise that targeted ultrasound might help brain activity tied to concentration, and could help you stay more present and focused during mindfulness practices.
Reduced stress and greater calm: By influencing the brain regions that control stress responses, ultrasound brain stimulation might help people feel calmer and more centered, in the same way that they might feel after meditating.
Noninvasive and precise treatment: Unlike invasive brain stimulation methods, ultrasound requires no surgery or implants. This makes it a safer and less intimidating option. But it’s still very new, so it most likely won’t be widely available or accessible for the general public just yet.
Better emotional regulation: Research shows ultrasound stimulation might be able to help balance activity in regions of the brain that are associated with emotion, which could potentially make it easier for you to manage your feelings and stay calm.
Potentially long-lasting effects: Recent studies show that ultrasound brain stimulation could possibly have lasting effects, with benefits lasting days or even weeks after just one session. For those practicing mindfulness, this could offer you a helpful boost, enhancing your long-term focus and mental clarity.
4 potential benefits for neurological disorders
Research has shown in clinical settings that ultrasound brain stimulation has a lot of potential for treating neurological disorders. This is really exciting as it may help people recover from brain injuries or strokes a lot quicker because of this method’s lack of invasiveness.
Here are four other possible benefits of this (still new) technique:
Chronic pain: With this method, certain brain areas that are associated with pain could be stimulated. This might help us experience reduced pain signals.
Epilepsy: Ultrasound stimulation may help reduce the likelihood of seizures for some epilepsy patients because it focuses on specific brain cells.
Parkinson’s disease: An innovative ultrasound brain stimulation device has been developed that might be able to trigger a dopamine release in areas of the brain that are affected by Parkinson’s disease. This could potentially mean there’s a noninvasive, alternative way to deeply stimulate the brain and help manage motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s.
Depression and anxiety: Ultrasound stimulation could potentially lift our mood and ease our anxiety symptoms without the side effects of medication according to a recent study.
How ultrasound brain stimulation could help boost your mindfulness practice
Mindfulness can be hard, especially when you’re first starting out. You’re practicing it because you want to get better at staying present, managing your emotions, and maintaining your focus, but sometimes you can’t focus long enough to stay present.
This is where researchers are hopeful that ultrasound brain stimulation might be able to help.
It activates focus centers: Ultrasound brain stimulation has been shown to boost activity in brain regions related to attention and awareness. This could help us focus better which is essential for mindfulness practices.
It reduces distracting thoughts: This method has been shown to help quiet areas of the brain that are responsible for stress and anxiety. This could help make it easier for us to stay calm, aware, and mindful.
It supports emotional balance: This technique has shown to help regulate areas of the brain that control emotional balance, which could make it easier for us to be mindful and observe our feelings without judgment.
It encourages neural health: Consistent ultrasound brain stimulation may also improve brain plasticity, which is our brain’s ability to adapt. This could be really useful when we’re practicing mindfulness, which is all about living in the present moment and being open-minded.
7 tips to help you boost mindfulness (no machines required)
You might be thinking that if ultrasound brain stimulation can help make me better at mindfulness you’ll start today! Unfortunately, the technique’s still in the early stages and not accessible to most people. Also, right now researchers cant say for sure if only one area of the brain was targeted and not multiple areas.
So until this technique gets more research, and accessibility, try boosting your mindfulness the old fashioned way. Here are seven simple and effective tips that can help you stay present and calm in your daily life — no equipment needed.
1. Create a mindful space
Set up a designated space for your mindfulness practice, like a comfy, quiet corner where you won’t be disturbed. Try to consistently return to this space to train your brain to associate it with calmness and focus.
Keep it simple —- you don’t have to re-do your home. A simple cushion or chair in a peaceful spot could do just the trick. If you’re feeling ambitious though, here are six ways to DIY your space into a mediation room.
2. Start small with just one step
Mindfulness can feel overwhelming, so go easy on yourself and begin with just a few minutes a day. Set a timer, sit comfortably, and focus on your breathing.
Remind yourself that the goal isn’t to clear your mind completely, but to just notice when thoughts come up and then gently bring your attention back to your breath. Start with five minutes at first, and as you become more comfortable, increase the length.
3. Practice mindful breathing to soothe your nervous system
Whenever you feel overwhelmed or distracted, pause for a moment and just focus on your breathing. Take slow, deep breaths, and feel the air enter and leave your body. It can help to count each inhale and exhale up to 10, then start over at 1.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are 10 types of breathing exercises you could try.
💙 Listening to Tamara Levitt’s meditation The Breathing Space could be a great choice during a challenging moment.
4. Try a body scan to connect
If you’re feeling scattered, try to connect with your body and bring awareness to the present moment by doing a body scan meditation. Start at your toes, then work your way up to your head. As you do this, bring your attention to each part of your body. This can help you get centered.
Notice sensations, tensions, or areas of relaxation as you go to potentially help to focus more. Want to go deeper? Here’s a step-by-step guide to practice.
5. Be mindful during your daily tasks when possible
Many people think mindfulness means you need to be still, but that’s not true. If it’s easier for you to focus while doing something, try being mindful while walking, eating, or even doing the dishes. This can help transform these activities into a more intentional moment.
While walking, eating, or doing whatever activity you’re doing — focus fully. Notice the feel, sound, and even the smell of that activity. That’s mindfulness!
💙 Learn to boost your mindfulness—and enjoy your food more deeply—during Dr. Michelle May’s Mindful Eating masterclass. .
6. Use guided meditations to keep yourself on track
If you’re new to mindfulness, having a guide can make it so much easier for you to stay focused and feel supported. Explore different guided meditations, breathing sessions, or even visualizations to help you find what practices work best for you.
💙 Ready for some guidance? Try to Tune Into your Senses with this short five-minute meditation from Prof. Megan Reitz.
7. Be kind to yourself if it takes time to get used to it
When you’re first starting out, it’s so normal for your mind to wander. When that happens, be patient and kind to yourself. Mindfulness isn’t about being perfect. Just notice when your thoughts drift and then gently bring your attention back to the present moment, without criticizing yourself.
Instead of getting mad every time your mind wanders, try to congratulate yourself as you’ve just successfully strengthened your practice by bringing your focus back.
Ultrasound brain stimulation FAQs
Can ultrasound technology boost mindfulness?
Early studies have shown promise that ultrasound brain stimulation could help make it easier for us to achieve that state of calm that we’re trying for when we practice mindfulness. It can also help improve focus, reduce stress, and regulate your emotions.
But it’s important to note that the science hasn’t proven that ultrasound brain stimulation can definitively increase mindfulness. More research is still needed.
Is ultrasound brain stimulation safe?
According to recent studies, ultrasound brain stimulation has been found to be safe, especially because it’s noninvasive. Unlike other stimulation methods that require surgery, implants, or medication, this technique only uses gentle sound waves like the ultrasounds used in medical imaging.
Researchers are continuing to study it to better understand its long-term effects.
How long does the effect of ultrasound stimulation last?
As with many things, the effects of ultrasound brain stimulation vary from person to person and the specific area of the brain being targeted.
In some studies, people felt improved focus and reduced stress for several days or even weeks after a single session, but for others, it took a series of sessions for them to achieve similar effects.
Still, researchers are hopeful that this method has the potential for lasting benefits.
Can ultrasound brain stimulation help with anxiety?
Ultrasound brain stimulation can not act as a replacement for traditional anxiety treatments, but it might be an effective complement.
Ultrasound brain stimulation might be able to help you feel less anxious and more balanced over time by targeting and calming areas of your brain linked to stress responses and emotional regulation.s
This stimulation could cause you to feel more grounded, which can be especially helpful during mindfulness practices that focus on relaxation and observing your thoughts without judgment.
Can ultrasound brain stimulation be used to treat chronic pain?
The research is still too new to know for sure if ultrasound brain stimulation could possibly treat chronic pain. But because it could help to influence specific brain areas that process pain signals, it might possibly help people with conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis.
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