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Blake, Wm. The Vision of Christ. 1821.

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Scientists are experimenting with sound waves to stimulate specific parts of the brain, potentially providing an alternative to invasive surgery.

This new method, using sound waves called Patterned Low-Intensity Low-Frequency Ultrasound, appears to work by affecting special channels in brain cells, which helps the brain learn and change.

When scientists tested the technique on mice, they discovered it enhanced motor skill learning and food retrieval and even changed limb preference. This suggests potential applications in stroke rehabilitation and motor impairments, as well as for treating conditions like depression.

Importantly, the sound waves can not only stimulate but also calm down specific brain areas. This feature of activating or deactivating brain regions opens up many possibilities, like helping people learn new skills or even recover from brain injuries.

For example, if someone has difficulty moving their arm after a stroke, the sound waves could potentially help them re-learn how to use their arm by stimulating the relevant brain regions. Researchers are eagerly exploring the potential of this new method.