Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40196448›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in human neuroscience2025

Investigating low intensity focused ultrasound pulsation in anhedonic depression-A randomized controlled trial.

Natalie M Rotstein, Zachary D Cohen, Amelia Welborn, Tomislav D Zbozinek, Samir Akre, Keith G Jones, Kaylee E Null, Jillian Pontanares, Katy L Sanchez, Demarko C Flanagan and 8 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in human neuroscience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Natalie M RotsteinDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Zachary D CohenDepartment of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
Amelia WelbornDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Tomislav D ZbozinekDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Samir AkreMedical & Imaging Informatics Group, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Keith G JonesDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Kaylee E NullDepartment of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Jillian PontanaresDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Katy L SanchezDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Demarko C FlanaganDepartment of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Sabrina E HalaviDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Evan KittleDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Mason G McClayDepartment of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Alex A T BuiMedical & Imaging Informatics Group, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Katherine L NarrDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Robert C WelshDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Michelle G CraskeDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Taylor P KuhnDepartment of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Anhedonic depression is a subtype of depression characterized by deficits in reward processing. This subtype of depression is associated with higher suicide risk and longer depressive episodes, underscoring the importance of effective treatments. Anhedonia has also been found to correlate with alterations in activity in several subcortical regions, including the caudate head and nucleus accumbens. Low intensity focused ultrasound pulsation (LIFUP) is an emerging technology that enables non-invasive stimulation of these subcortical regions, which were previously only accessible with surgically-implanted electrodes. Methods: This double-blinded, sham-controlled study aims to investigate the effects of LIFUP to the left caudate head and right nucleus accumbens in participants with anhedonic depression. Participants in this protocol will undergo three sessions of LIFUP over the span of 5-9 days. To investigate LIFUP-related changes, this 7-week protocol collects continuous digital phenotyping data, an array of self-report measures of depression, anhedonia, and other psychopathology, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after the LIFUP intervention. Primary self-report outcome measures include Ecological Momentary Assessment, the Positive Valence Systems Scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire. Primary imaging measures include magnetic resonance spectroscopy and functional MRI during reward-based tasks and at rest. Digital phenotyping data is collected with an Apple Watch and participants' personal iPhones throughout the study, and includes information about sleep, heart rate, and physical activity. Discussion: This study is the first to investigate the effects of LIFUP to the caudate head or nucleus accumbens in depressed subjects. Furthermore, the data collected for this protocol covers a wide array of potentially affected modalities. As a result, this protocol will help to elucidate potential impacts of LIFUP in individuals with anhedonic depression.

Indexed as

anhedoniaanhedonic depressiondigital phenotypinglow intensity focused ultrasound pulsation (LIFUP)major depressive disorderneuroimagingtranscranial focused ultrasound (tFUS)

Identifiers

PMID40196448
PMCPMC11973349

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.