tDCS is not a new technology by any means. I did a week long retreat last year using a prototype tDCS device made specifically as a beta for helping mindfulness practice. I found it useful as an aid definitely in relaxation and as a byproduct for focusing. I would do it more often if they figured out a cheap, sustainable way to put the electrodes on the head without all the gels/sponges/etc.
Brain stimulation increases monkeys’ ability to quickly perform tasks (2017)
11–20 of 29 posts
Re: Brain stimulation increases monkeys’ ability to quickly perform tasks (2017)
#12Most notable thing about this link is that it hijacked the back button on my phone.
Can you elaborate on what you mean by "hijack"?
Re: Brain stimulation increases monkeys’ ability to quickly perform tasks (2017)
#13tDCS is not a new technology by any means. I did a week long retreat last year using a prototype tDCS device made specifically as a beta for helping mindfulness practice. I found it useful as an aid definitely in relaxation and as a byproduct for focusing. I would do it more often if they figured out a cheap, sustainable way to put the electrodes on the head without all the gels/sponges/etc.
> without all the gels/sponges/etc.
I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon. ECG/EKG/EEG's require the probes to have a good electrical connection to your skin. And dry skin is a pretty terrible conductor.
The gels help the probe adhere to you skin and provide better conductivity. You'd still need something to hold it in place anyway.
Protip for removing the gel: Warm water helps a lot :D
Re: Brain stimulation increases monkeys’ ability to quickly perform tasks (2017)
#14Re: Brain stimulation increases monkeys’ ability to quickly perform tasks (2017)
#15Most notable thing about this link is that it hijacked the back button on my phone.
I'm curious, why would you not open random links into a separate incognito tab?
Doesn't everybody do this today?
Re: Brain stimulation increases monkeys’ ability to quickly perform tasks (2017)
#16Title should sound more like this:Increased learning speed in monkeys. It's also from 2017. As we are now two years later, have these findings been replicated with humans?
Yeah, there's been a bunch of studies published on how this works for humans too. Just a matter of moderation. Only thing is, we don't know about long term effects (if any) yet.
Re: Brain stimulation increases monkeys’ ability to quickly perform tasks (2017)
#17tDCS is not a new technology by any means. I did a week long retreat last year using a prototype tDCS device made specifically as a beta for helping mindfulness practice. I found it useful as an aid definitely in relaxation and as a byproduct for focusing. I would do it more often if they figured out a cheap, sustainable way to put the electrodes on the head without all the gels/sponges/etc.
> without all the gels/sponges/etc. I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon. ECG/EKG/EEG's require the probes to have a good electrical connection to your skin. And dry skin is a pretty terrible conductor. The gels help the probe adhere to you skin and provide better conductivity. You'd still need something to hold it in place anyway. Protip for removing the gel: Warm water helps a lot :D
Warm water for sponge electrodes? I can’t imagine water being helpful for gel electrodes.
Re: Brain stimulation increases monkeys’ ability to quickly perform tasks (2017)
#18Frankly, I could never trust the motives behind anyone who made this sort of thing without the most intense scrutiny.
Maybe in the early stages when no one really knows any better, but as things get refined, I have severe doubts that "little tweaks" here and there would not be attempted in search of ways to engineer people\brain matter that agrees with you (the maker/auditor)'s sensibilities.
In fact, scratch that, this reeks of the idea of nerve stapling in the early stages. Hard pass.
Sometimes, it just isn't worth opening the box. Hate coming off as a Luddite, but I've read enough to know where this type of thing inevitably strays into.
Re: Brain stimulation increases monkeys’ ability to quickly perform tasks (2017)
#19Title should sound more like this:Increased learning speed in monkeys. It's also from 2017. As we are now two years later, have these findings been replicated with humans?
It seems to be following the same path as ECT, LENS, TMS, etc, electric or magnetic stimulation showing improvements in memory, and cognition, especially in those with deficiencies from issues such as severe depression, bipolar, ADD/ADHD, schizophrenia, PTSD, and I want to say TMS helps with autism symptoms too?
In any case, it's purpose is mainly for those with disorders, although I'm sure we'll see plenty of people sell it as a nootropic.
It's worth noting that these improvements from current therapies I mentioned seem to mostly benefit those with disorders and not neurotypical people (don't expect a 40% improvement if you're normal. But if you can't get out of your home because of depression then yeah it might be a bigger improvement)
Re: Brain stimulation increases monkeys’ ability to quickly perform tasks (2017)
#20It would be nice to know what the potential long term damage of something like this is. Relate it to exercise. You work out one group of muscles all the time as much as you can, and the rest of the body is near worthless. At best you have someone who is basically an idiot savant. At worst, you have someone who has forgotten basic life functions, but handles being a soldier like the best of them.
> At best you have someone who is basically an idiot savant. At worst, you have someone who has forgotten basic life functions, but handles being a soldier like the best of them.
From both an industrial and military perspective, this seems like a feature, not a bug.
In fact, it really brings to mind a similar fictional concept, stylized Focus, from Vernon Vinge's Deepness in the Sky. Here, Vinge describes how teams of these "idiot savants", specialized in a certain area, are led by neurotypical managers who direct their output toward broader strategic goals.
If this was repeatably and broadly applicable in human learning, I could definitely imagine this achieving widespread usage, especially in developing countries willing to exchange personal well-being for collective (familial or societal) success.