Anyone else zapping their brain with electricity?

  • 7 October 2014
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Userlevel 7
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I heard this fascinating podcast from Radiolab about transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS):
http://www.radiolab.org/story/9-volt-nirvana/
and it inspired me to do more research.  I found a reddit group dedicated to it:
https://www.reddit.com/r/tDCS
and decided to try it out.  I ordered one of the units from here:
http://thebrainstimulator.net/
 
I tried it out last night and the results were quite interesting.  I definitely noticed a mood boost and improved concentration afterwards.  It's a new field of research, but so far all the research shows it as safe (pending long term studies of course).  Any other brave brain experimenters?
 

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Userlevel 7
Very interesting...!  I may look into this.
 
I wonder if the TENS unit I have for my back would work...........
 
POOOF!    (Maybe not....)
 
 
Userlevel 7
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Yeah they don't recommend TENS units, as the amount of current is so much greater.  These units only put out up to 2 milliamps, so a very small amount of current.  It's only powered by a 9V battery.
Userlevel 7
@ wrote:
Yeah they don't recommend TENS units, as the amount of current is so much greater.  These units only put out up to 2 milliamps, so a very small amount of current.  It's only powered by a 9V battery.
LOL, I know.  But once in a while I have to try to get a grin or a laugh :)
 
I am serious though about looking into it.  It sounds very promising, it certainly wont hurt.  Might as well give it a shot!
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
@ wrote:
@ wrote:
Yeah they don't recommend TENS units, as the amount of current is so much greater.  These units only put out up to 2 milliamps, so a very small amount of current.  It's only powered by a 9V battery.
LOL, I know.  But once in a while I have to try to get a grin or a laugh :)
 
I am serious though about looking into it.  It sounds very promising, it certainly wont hurt.  Might as well give it a shot!
I figured you were joking, but never hurts to clarify for anyone else who might be reading :)
 
They have a protocol specifically for mood improvement - you put the anode on F3, which is the left prefrontal cortex.  That area is tied to mood, willpower and motor function.  Some people have also reported weight loss from that protocol as it tends to reduce impulsivity by increasing the available willpower.

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