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Restoration of Consciousness With Ultrasonic Deep Brain Stimulation During Anesthetic Sedation

University of Michigan · with National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) · NCT07221539

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–40 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
168
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
October 24, 2025
Record last updated
October 15, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The purpose of this study is to see if mental functions take place during different levels of anesthesia using two commonly used drug (propofol and dexmedetomidine) and will include low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsation (LIFUP) to stimulate specific areas of the brain while undergoing functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI or "brain imaging"), which shows areas in the brain involved in thinking at different depths of anesthesia. That is, ultrasound is being used to stimulate the brain and multiple pictures will be taken of the brain.

As a result of this study, the investigators expect to gain a deeper understanding of mental function during different levels of anesthesia, and to evaluate if the use of ultrasonic brain stimulation accelerates return to consciousness.

Being studied: Propofol for fMRI; Dexmedetomidine for fMRI; Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) pulsation; Anterior insular cortex (AIC) pulsation; Central thalamus (CT) pulsation

Conditions: Mental Function

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Healthy study participants with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification System-1 status
  • The participants will be right-handed adults
  • Body mass index (BMI) less than 30.
  • All subjects will be English speakers.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Medical contraindication to MRI scanning; are unable to undergo MRI scanning because of possible pregnancy or currently breastfeeding,
  • BMI>30,
  • metallic substances in the body, claustrophobia, anxiety, or cardiopulmonary disease; or have an intracranial structural abnormality on T1-weighted MRI scans.
  • History of allergy to propofol, dexmedetomidine, any components of propofol or dexmedetomidine, eggs or egg products, soybean or soybean products,
  • Neurological, cardiovascular, or pulmonary illness;
  • Significant head injury with loss of consciousness;
  • Learning disability or other developmental disorder; sleep apnea or any severe snoring history; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn; pancreatitis or a history of pancreatitis, or sensory/motor loss sufficient to interfere with performance of the study; epilepsy/seizure disorder (including a history of seizures) or stroke (including a history of stroke).
  • Participants with tattoos in the head or neck region will be excluded from study; other tattoos are subject to determination by investigators based on their assessment regarding participant safety.
  • Recent food or liquid intake (within 8 hours).
  • History of drug use, have a positive drug screen, are unwilling to abstain from alcohol for 24 hours prior to dosing, or have a current history of nicotine use. -----Negative pregnancy test result, if applicable.
  • Potential participants who have participated in a clinical trial using an investigational drug or device within 30 days will be considered for enrollment after 30 days.

Recruiting US locations

  • University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor, MI 48109

    Site contact: Aaron Ellis · 734-647-8129 · aaronel@med.umich.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Aaron Ellis · 734-647-8129 · aaronel@med.umich.edu
  • Amy McKinney · 734-647-8129 · adrongo@med.umich.edu
All healthy volunteers studies in Michigan →
Restoration of Consciousness With Ultrasonic Deep Brain… (NCT07221539) | Bored Studies