Non-invasive ultrasound neural modulation: Merge Labs and Forest Neurotech technical whitepaper on molecular neurostimulation approach

Summary

Merge Labs and Forest Neurotech published a technical description of their non-invasive BCI approach: using ultrasound as a physical carrier to deliver molecular agents (biological or synthetic) to specific neurons, enabling both reading neural activity (via molecular reporters) and writing to neural circuits (via molecular effectors) without electrodes or surgery. The approach builds on Mikhail Shapiro's Caltech laboratory work on acoustic reporter genes, ultrasound neuroimaging, and molecular tools for neural circuit interrogation, combined with Forest Neurotech's applied neural engineering work.