UCSF Launches Phase 1 Trial Targeting Caudate Circuits for Schizophrenia Hallucinations
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco opened enrollment on October 30, 2026, for a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating low-intensity focused ultrasound for patients with schizophrenia. Auditory hallucinations—the persistent experience of hearing voices that others cannot hear—affect more than 70 percent of people with schizophrenia, with a multinational study placing the precise prevalence at 74.8 percent, News-Medical reported. Despite treatment with antipsychotic medications, approximately 40 percent of patients continue to experience these symptoms.
Led by Karuna Subramaniam, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at UCSF, the trial investigates whether repeated noninvasive sound-wave sessions can reduce or eliminate voices that have persisted for decades. The study uses a wearable device developed by Attune Neurosciences to target the caudate, a deep brain region within the striatum. The project operates under trial identifier NCT07710989 and receives funding from the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.
Trial Design and Methodology for Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound
The study plans to enroll up to 12 participants to investigate safety, tolerability, and sustained symptom reduction. Each participant receives five daily sessions of active low-intensity focused ultrasound targeting the caudate, followed by five sessions of a sham control utilizing unfocused sonication, with a washout period between conditions. The unfocused control delivers an identical amount of ultrasound energy to preserve the sensory experience of the treatment without concentrating energy on a specific brain target.
Researchers utilize resting-state functional MRI scans before and after treatment to examine changes in functional connectivity between the caudate and other brain regions. Clinical outcomes are tracked using validated measures assessing auditory hallucination severity, mood, and other psychiatric symptoms.
Parallel Findings From NYU Langone Health on Delusion Scores
A similar clinical trial published on October 20, 2026, in npj Acoustics by researchers at NYU Langone Health tested transcranial ultrasound stimulation on 10 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Yahoo reported that the NYU study used a randomized sham-controlled crossover design to target a different node in the basal ganglia circuit, the globus pallidus internus, during a single 10-minute session where sound waves switched on and off every 30 seconds.
Delusion scores in the NYU study dropped by an average of 1.2 points on a standard scale following active treatment, compared to an increase of 0.4 points after the sham procedure, with effects lasting up to a week. Reported side effects were mild, including tiredness, headaches, and brief symptom increases. Tech Times noted that this parallel work builds a cross-indication safety database for the wearable platform as the UCSF schizophrenia program proceeds.
Patient Responses and Preliminary Observations During Treatment
Initial participants in the ongoing UCSF trial have reported reductions in hallucinations following repeated low-intensity focused ultrasound sessions. One participant described the immediate aftermath by stating, “I’m so surprised the voices have gone for now. My mind is really quiet.”
Another participant, who previously experienced constant voices originating from outside the head that inserted thoughts, noted a shift after the procedure. That participant remarked with laughter, “I did hear one voice saying, ‘I’m still here,’ but the voices are softer, more like in the distant background, and seem to be going away. I feel it’s very peaceful.” Researchers caution that these early observations from a small participant group remain preliminary and require further investigation to establish long-term efficacy.
Frequently Asked Questions About the UCSF Ultrasound Trial
What specific brain structure does the UCSF trial target?
The UCSF Phase 1 trial targets the caudate, a deep brain region within the striatum that researchers hypothesize plays a role in the emergence of auditory hallucinations.
How many treatment sessions do participants receive?
Participants receive five daily sessions of active low-intensity focused ultrasound and five sessions of a sham control using unfocused sonication, separated by a washout period.
What device delivers the ultrasound waves in the UCSF study?
The clinical trial uses a noninvasive wearable device developed by Attune Neurosciences to send low-intensity ultrasound waves through the skull.
Who is funding the research at UCSF?
The clinical study at the University of California, San Francisco is funded by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.
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