A groundbreaking approach to brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is emerging from China, promising to interact with the brain without the need for surgical implants. Gestala, a startup based in Chengdu with additional offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, is pioneering the use of ultrasound technology to both stimulate and potentially read brain activity in a completely non-invasive manner.
Founded recently by CEO and cofounder Phoenix Peng—along with notable backing including ties to figures like Tianqiao Chen—Gestala positions itself as China’s first company dedicated to ultrasound-based BCIs. This development arrives amid rapid growth in the country’s BCI sector, where government support and private innovation are accelerating advancements in neurotechnology.
Traditional BCIs often rely on electrical signals, such as those captured by EEG caps or invasive implants like Neuralink. These methods typically limit recording to specific brain regions, such as the motor cortex, which controls movement. Peng highlights a key limitation: “The electrical brain-computer interface only records from a part of the brain; for instance, the motor cortex.” In contrast, ultrasound offers the potential for broader access. “Ultrasound, it seems like, can provide us with the capability to access the whole brain,” Peng explained in recent interviews.
The technology leverages high-frequency sound waves that can penetrate the skull to detect or modulate neural activity more deeply and precisely than surface-level electrical methods. Gestala’s roadmap includes a first-generation stationary benchtop device for clinical use, followed by a second-generation wearable helmet. This helmet would enable at-home treatment under medical supervision, detecting abnormal brain states—such as those linked to chronic pain or depression—and delivering targeted therapeutic stimulation to affected areas.
Ultrasound’s dual role in both reading and writing to the brain draws from established techniques like focused ultrasound (FUS), already used in medical applications to ablate neurons in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease by applying precise heat. Gestala aims to expand this into broader neuromodulation and eventual full-brain signal decoding, potentially enhanced by artificial intelligence to interpret complex neural data.
This push aligns with global trends in non-invasive BCIs. For instance, OpenAI recently invested in Merge Labs, a U.S. startup pursuing similar ultrasound-based interfaces. While invasive BCIs have demonstrated impressive feats—like thought-controlled devices or speech restoration—non-invasive options avoid surgical risks, making them more accessible and scalable for widespread therapeutic and assistive use.
Despite the excitement, Gestala’s technology remains in early development stages. No public demonstrations of advanced “mind-reading” capabilities—such as decoding complex thoughts, images, or full sentences—have been showcased yet. True high-resolution thought extraction from brain signals continues to face significant scientific and technical challenges, particularly in non-invasive formats where signal quality can be noisier compared to implanted electrodes.
China’s BCI field is advancing swiftly, with multiple companies and research initiatives exploring various pathways, from invasive to ultrasound and beyond. Gestala’s focus on ultrasound represents an ambitious bet on safer, whole-brain access that could reshape treatments for neurological and psychiatric conditions while paving the way for future human-AI integration.
As the technology matures, it underscores a pivotal moment in neurotechnology: the shift toward non-invasive methods that could democratize brain interfacing without compromising safety or requiring invasive procedures.
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