[dumbneurologist]

ultrasound is completely capable of not only affecting brain tissue, but destroying it.

as with anything else: it's about the amount of energy you put into it.

Focused ultrasound would be completely capable, and share the quality of being perceptable in the targeted region, and absent elsewhere.

https://www.fusfoundation.org/diseases-and-conditions/neurol...

[lazerpants]

But generating that much energy requires a huge piece of equipment. For example, the unit used for the ablative technique you linked to is quite large and works only at very short distances.

[image of device] https://www.israel21c.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/insight...

[gm-conspiracy]

What about multiple devices where their respective waves converge at a specific point?

[hwillis]

Ultrasonic waves are attenuated at a rate of 3-180 dB/m[1] (100-1000 kHz waves). So at 10 m a 150 kHz wave will have decreased in amplitude by over 300x. There's no amount of transmitters that can make up for the attenuation at high frequencies. It's not even possible for devices operating above a couple hundred kHz or farther than 10-20 m. A 500 kHz wave will decrease 200 dB over 5 meters, taking it from a shockwave (ie the pressure between pulses is vacuum) to undetectable. You'd need a transmitter strong enough to disintegrate organic material[2] but even the best detectors on earth won't hear it from across a road.

[1]: http://www.ktu.lt/ultra/journal/pdf_50_1/50-2004-Vol.1_09-A....

[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonication

[lazerpants]

That makes more sense to me, but still, the energy requirements would be huge. Given Cuba's electricity infrastructure (and probably even without that) I think you would be looking at 3 or more big pieces of equipment that require very large, very heavy, batteries. It seems like that would have been very conspicuous.

[gh02t]

It'd be awfully difficult to precisely position and aim multiple transmitters discreetly.

[raverbashing]

Yes, but at which frequencies, power and more important, acoustic coupling with the skull?

[gm-conspiracy]

Check out "parametric speakers".

Amazon has an assembled kit for sale: http://amzn.to/2AxtPBS

Also, more info from soundlazer.com, here: http://www.soundlazer.com/what-is-a-parametric-speaker/

Also, reminds me of the MacGyver (original) episode "Soft Touch"- where a Columbian drug cartel tortures a federal agent in a garage using high-decibel noise.