China develops ultrasound brain-computer interface without surgery

When you hear “brain-computer interface,” you probably imagine surgery, wires, and a chip in your head. Now imagine something calmer. No implant. No incision. Just sound waves directed to the brain.

This 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 potentially study brain activity using focused ultrasound.

Yes, the same basic technology is used in medical imaging. But this time, it targets neural circuits.

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Brain imaging highlights the regions researchers are studying as companies explore non-invasive 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 coming from neurons. Neural link is the most visible example. It places tiny wires inside the brain to record activity. Ultrasound works differently.

Instead of directly measuring electrical signals, it uses high-frequency sound waves. Depending on the intensity and concentration, these waves can:

• Create internal tissue images
• Destroy abnormal tissues such as tumors
• Modulate neural activity without open surgery.

Focused ultrasound treatments are already approved for Parkinson’s disease, uterine fibroids and certain tumors. This clinical history gives companies like Gestala a foundation to build on. However, studying or interpreting brain signals using ultrasound is much more complex than delivering targeted stimulation.

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Unlike implant-based systems such as Neuralink, research into ultrasound brain-computer interfaces focuses on stimulating the brain without surgery. (Neuralian)

How Gestala plans to treat chronic pain with focused ultrasound

Gestala’s first product focuses 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 stimulation of 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 went to a hospital for treatment sessions. Later, the company plans to develop a wearable headset designed for supervised use at home. Over time, Gestala says it wants to expand to depression, other mental health issues, stroke rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s disease and sleep disorders. This is an ambitious roadmap. Each condition involves different brain networks and clinical obstacles.

Can ultrasound read brain activity without implants?

Like other brain technology startups, Gestala is also studying whether ultrasound could help interpret brain activity. The long-term concept is simple in theory. A device could detect patterns related 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 could potentially access broader regions of the brain. This possibility is one reason why researchers are paying attention to it. Yet translating this concept into reliable data constitutes a major engineering challenge.

The global race to build non-invasive 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 co-founded by Sam Altman with researchers linked to Forest Neurotech.

Public documents from Merge Labs mention restoring lost abilities, supporting healthier brain states, and deepening human connection with advanced AI. This language signals long-term ambitions. However, experts warn that concrete applications will not be available for several years.

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Researchers are using MRI guidance to precisely target the anterior cingulate cortex with focused ultrasound in studies of chronic pain. (Gestala)

The technical limits of ultrasound brain interfaces

Ultrasound faces technical limitations. First, the skull weakens and distorts sound waves. This makes it more difficult to obtain accurate signals. In the research, detailed readings of neuronal activity required special implants that allowed ultrasound to pass through more clearly than bone.

Second, ultrasound measures changes in blood flow. Blood flow moves more slowly than electrical firing in neurons. This delay can limit applications that require rapid and detailed signal decoding, such as real-time speech translation. In short, stimulation is a challenge. Accurate reading is a whole new level.

What does this mean for you

For now, this technology is experimental. You’re not about to buy a brain headset at your local electronics store. However, direction matters. If non-invasive ultrasound devices can reduce chronic pain or support mental health treatment, more patients might consider therapy without undergoing brain surgery.

At the same time, devices that analyze brain states raise new privacy questions. Brain data is deeply personal. Regulators, hospitals and businesses will need clear rules on how this data is stored, shared and protected. Finally, the connection between AI companies and brain interface startups shows how intertwined digital intelligence and neuroscience are becoming. This connection could reshape medicine, wellness, and even how we interact with technology.

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Kurt’s Key Takeaways

Brain-computer interfaces seemed distant and experimental. They are now the subject of global research and investment. China’s efforts to develop an ultrasound-based brain-computer interface add momentum to a field already shaped by companies like Neuralink and new ventures backed by OpenAI. Progress is steady but measured. The potential is significant. The technical obstacles are real. What happens next will depend on whether researchers can turn promising lab results into safe, reliable treatments that people can actually use.

If sound waves could one day interpret your mental state, who should decide how this information is used? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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