Frontiers in human neuroscience
January 1, 2024
Brian Lord, Joseph L Sanguinetti, Lisannette Ruiz et al.
28 citations
Transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) aimed at the posterior cingulate cortex reduces functional connectivity along the midline of the default mode network (DMN) in healthy people. In a randomized, single-blind trial with 30 participants, those receiving active TFUS showed significant connectivity decreases and reported increased state mindfulness, reduced vigor, and temporary changes in sense of self, time, and memory recall. The sham group also showed increased mindfulness but no other subjective effects. TFUS can alter DMN connectivity and subjective experience, suggesting it may serve as a research tool and potential therapeutic intervention.
Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging
April 1, 2025
Brian Lord, John J B Allen, Shinzen Young et al.
4 citations
Mindfulness benefits mental health and cognition through a combination of top-down attention and bottom-up emotional processes, with equanimity—the ability to maintain an open, nonreactive attitude toward all experiences—driving many of these benefits. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) can alter neural circuits involved in mindfulness, but most studies have focused on cognitive control rather than equanimity. Preliminary findings using focused ultrasound on the posterior cingulate cortex suggest NIBS can directly facilitate equanimity by inhibiting self-referential processing in the default mode network, promoting a more present-centered state. Future research should integrate NIBS with mindfulness training, targeting equanimity to advance contemplative neuroscience and develop individualized wellness interventions.
British journal of pharmacology
May 13, 2025
Brian Lord, Sirak Simavorian, Ian Fraser et al.
2 citations
A selective GluN2A antagonist, JNJ-78911118, blocks GluN1/2A receptors with an IC50 of 44 nM and shows selectivity over other NMDA receptor subtypes. It increases prefrontal cortex monoamine levels in wild-type but not GluN2A knockout mice, blocks hippocampal long-term potentiation, and boosts dendritic complexity, synapse number, and mEPSC frequency in rat cortical neurons. In rats, no Olney's lesions occurred, but acute increases in heart rate and blood pressure were detected. The molecule reproduces effects of known rapidly acting antidepressants on neurotransmitter levels and synaptic plasticity, offering a tool to study GluN2A biology.
October 8, 2025
Sebastian Ehmann, Brian Lord, Erica Cook et al.
preprint
Inhibiting the posterior cingulate cortex with transcranial focused ultrasound during a ten-day silent retreat enhanced meditative qualities such as equanimity, concentration, and sensory clarity. Twenty-eight meditators received two stimulation sessions and reported significant increases in trait mindfulness, nondual awareness, and interoceptive body listening. Qualitative reports showed consistent differences between stimulation and non-stimulation days, including shifts in self-perception and cathartic emotional release. The effects often interacted with participants' ongoing psychological challenges, suggesting tFUS may increase baseline equanimity and support meditative development. Implementation was feasible but required logistical planning; limitations include the quasi-experimental design and reliance on self-reports.