China’s ultrasound brain tech race heats up
March 2, 2026 at 02:18 PM
By Fox News
Chinese company Gestala develops non-invasive ultrasound brain-computer interfaces as alternative to surgical implants, targeting chronic pain treatment.
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Chinese company Gestala develops non-invasive ultrasound brain-computer interfaces as alternative to surgical implants, targeting chronic pain treatme Chinese company Gestala develops non-invasive ultrasound brain-computer interfaces as alternative to surgical implants, targeting chronic pain treatme Monitor developments in China’s for further updates.
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Chinese company Gestala develops non-invasive ultrasound brain-computer interfaces as alternative to
Chinese company Gestala develops non-invasive ultrasound brain-computer interfaces as alternative to surgical implants, targeting chronic pain treatment.
Tech China’s ultrasound brain tech race heats up New startups use sound waves to treat pain and study brain signals By Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report Fox News Published March 2, 2026 9:18am EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for March 2 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! When you hear "brain-computer interface," you probably picture surgery, wires, and a chip in your head. Now picture something quieter. No implant. No incision. Just sound waves directed at the brain. That is the approach behind a new wave of ultrasound brain-computer interface companies in China. One of the newest is Gestala, founded in Chengdu with offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The company says it is developing technology that can stimulate and eventually study brain activity using focused ultrasound.Yes, the same basic technology is used in medical imaging. But this time, it targets neural circuits. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter Brain imaging highlights the regions researchers study as companies explore noninvasive ultrasound brain-computer interface technology. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What is an ultrasound brain computer interface? Most brain-computer interface systems rely on electrodes that detect electrical signals from neurons. Neuralink is the most visible example. It places tiny threads inside the brain to record activity. Ultrasound works differently.Instead of measuring electrical signals directly, it uses high-frequency sound waves. Depending on intensity and focus, those waves can:Create images of internal tissueDestroy abnormal tissue such as tumorsModulate neural activity without open surgery Focused ultrasound treatments are already approved for Parkinson's disease, uterine fibroids and certain tumors. That clinical history gives companies like Gestala a foundation to build on. However, studying or interpreting brain signals with ultrasound is far more complex than delivering targeted stimulation.WHAT TRUMP'S ‘RATEPAYER PROTECTION PLEDGE’ MEANS FOR YOU Unlike implant-based systems such as Neuralink, ultrasound brain computer interface research focuses on stimulating the brain without surgery. (Neuralink) How Gestala plans to treat chronic pain with focused ultrasound Gestala's first product is focused on chronic pain. The company plans to target the anterior cingulate cortex, a brain region linked to the emotional experience of pain. Early pilot studies suggest that stimulating this area can reduce pain intensity for up to a week in some patients. The first-generation device will be a stationary system used in clinics. Patients would visit a hospital for treatment sessions. Later, the company plans to develop a wearable helmet designed for supervised use at home. Over time, Gestala says it wants to expand into depression, other mental health conditions, stroke rehabilitation, Alzheimer's disease and sleep disorders. That is an ambitious roadmap. Each condition involves different brain networks and clinical hurdles.Can ultrasound read brain activity without implants?Like other brain tech startups, Gestala is also exploring whether ultrasound could help interpret brain activity. The long-term concept is straightforward in theory. A device could detect patterns linked to chronic pain or depression, then deliver stimulation to specific regions in response.Unlike traditional brain implants, which capture electrical signals from limited areas, an ultrasound-based system may have the potential to access broader regions of the brain. That possibility is one reason researchers are paying attention. Still, translating that concept into reliable data is a major engineering challenge. The global race to build noninvasive brain interfaces China is not alone in exploring ultrasound brain-computer interface systems. Earlier this month, OpenAI announced a significant investment in Merge Labs, a startup cofounded by Sam Altman along with researchers linked to Forest Neurotech.Public materials from Merge Labs mention restoring lost abilities, supporting healthier brain states and deepening human connection with advanced AI. That language signals long-term ambitions. Yet experts caution that real-world applications are still years away.GOOGLE DISMANTLES 9M-DEVICE ANDROID HIJACK NETWORK Researchers use MRI guidance to precisely target the anterior cingulate cortex with focused ultrasound during chronic pain studies. (Gestala)The technical limits of ultrasound brain interfaces Ultrasound faces technical limits. First, the skull weakens and distorts sound waves. That makes it harder to obtain precise signals. In research settings, detailed readout
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