Low-intensity focused ultrasound for a child with chronic disorders of consciousness: a promising case report
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Pipeline for Planning and Execution of Transcranial Ultrasound Neuromodulation Experiments in Humans
Published on: June 28, 2024
Xiao Zhang1, Guo-Li Zhu1, Zheng Wang1
1Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) safely improved a pediatric patient's prolonged disorder of consciousness (pDOC). The treatment enhanced brain connectivity and clinical function, suggesting LIFU as a potential therapy for pediatric consciousness disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuromodulation
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) is an emerging neuromodulation technique.
- Prolonged disorder of consciousness (pDOC) presents significant challenges in pediatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first application of thalamic LIFU in a pediatric patient with pDOC.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of LIFU in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- A single pediatric patient with pDOC underwent 12 sessions of neuroimaging-guided LIFU targeting the left thalamus.
- Clinical outcomes were assessed using standardized scales (PGCS, CRS-R, ADL, FOT).
- Resting-state fMRI was used to analyze functional connectivity changes before and after intervention.
Main Results:
- The patient demonstrated significant clinical improvement, including full PGCS score and increased CRS-R score from 8 to 20.
- Improvements were observed in swallowing and daily living functions.
- fMRI revealed strengthened functional connectivity within key brain networks and reduced non-essential couplings, indicating network reorganization.
- No adverse events were reported during the intervention.
Conclusions:
- Thalamic LIFU appears to be a safe and potentially effective treatment for pediatric pDOC.
- Clinical improvements may be linked to reorganized brain connectivity.
- Further research into LIFU for pediatric consciousness disorders is warranted.
Purpose:
Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) is an emerging neuromodulation technique. We report the first application of thalamic LIFU in a pediatric patient with prolonged disorder of consciousness (pDOC) to evaluate its safety and efficacy.
Methods:
A single pediatric patient with pDOC received 12 sessions of neuroimaging-guided LIFU targeting the left thalamus. Clinical scales (Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale, Coma Recovery Scale - Revised, activities of daily living, functional oral intake) were assessed longitudinally. Resting-state fMRI was acquired before and after intervention to analyze whole-brain and seed-based functional connectivity.
Results:
After LIFU, the patient showed significant clinical improvement: full score on PGCS, CRS-R increased from 8 to 20, and enhanced swallowing and daily function. No adverse events occurred. fMRI revealed strengthened connectivity within the default mode and task-positive networks, alongside reduced non-essential couplings, indicating functional network reorganization.
Conclusion:
Thalamic LIFU appears safe and potentially effective in this pediatric pDOC case, with clinical gains possibly mediated by reorganized brain connectivity. These findings support further investigation of LIFU as a novel treatment for pediatric consciousness disorders.
