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A new NHS trial will test the safety and tolerability of Forest 1, a brain-computer interface that uses ultrasound to modify brain activity. Developed by Forest Neurotech, the device is implanted beneath the skull but outside the brain, where it maps neural activity and delivers targeted pulses to stimulate neurons. The £6.5 million trial, funded by the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria), will involve 30 participants, primarily individuals with existing skull defects, to avoid invasive surgery.
The device offers potential treatments for conditions like depression, addiction, OCD, and epilepsy by addressing disrupted brain circuits rather than specific brain regions. It uses ultrasound to generate detailed 3D maps of brain activity and nudge neurons to fire, with a spatial resolution far greater than typical fMRI scans. Patients will wear the device for two hours while researchers monitor brain activity and mood changes. Safety concerns, such as heat from ultrasound, will be closely monitored to avoid unintended effects on personality or decision-making.
In collaboration with researchers from the University of Plymouth, the trial will run for three and a half years, starting in March 2025. If successful, Forest 1 may advance to clinical trials for conditions like depression. Aria describes it as the most advanced BCI, with potential applications for millions of patients suffering from circuit-level neurological disorders.
The trial is part of Aria’s £69 million precision neurotechnologies programme, which also includes projects like neural robots, genetically engineered brain cells, and lab-grown brain organoids. Aria, modeled on the US DARPA, aims to fund innovative, high-risk scientific research with transformative potential.
