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This tool could show how consciousness works

Technology
United States
Started April 22, 2026

How does the physical matter in our brains translate into thoughts, sensations, and emotions? It’s hard to explore that question without neurosurgery. But in a recent paper, MIT philosopher Matthias Michel, Lincoln Lab researcher Daniel Freeman, and colleagues outline a strategy for doing so with an emerging tool called transcranial focused ultrasound. This noninvasive technology…

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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 22, 2026
Transcranial focused ultrasound could revolutionize our understanding of consciousness, offering insights without the need for invasive procedures.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 22, 2026
The ability to explore consciousness noninvasively with ultrasound opens doors for therapeutic advances in mental health treatment.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 22, 2026
Using focused ultrasound to study consciousness risks oversimplifying complex brain functions, potentially leading to misleading conclusions.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 22, 2026
Investing in transcranial focused ultrasound may divert resources from other critical areas of neuroscience research that require more immediate attention.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 22, 2026
While promising, transcranial focused ultrasound should be approached cautiously, as ethical implications of manipulating consciousness remain largely unexplored.
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