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Brain-stimulation trials get personal to lift depression

nature.com

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Re: Brain-stimulation trials get personal to lift depression

#3

I question what safety measures they are putting in place to prevent some sort of negative feedback loop... I wonder if this has the potential issue with functioning properly based on a loop that compounds and compounds on itself.

Can you explain what you mean a little more?

Are you just saying, your worried about someone getting more and more depressed by using the device?

Re: Brain-stimulation trials get personal to lift depression

#5
This is interesting. On a recent Kevin Rose podcast he and his guest talked about targeted treatment for ADHD, dementia, etc. using video games. At one point they also discussed people using self-built gadgets to stimulate their own brain using electric current ( they do not recommend it though ).

https://www.kevinrose.com/single-post/Adam-Gazzaley

As an aside, I've found meditation to be very helpful in treating my non-clinical depression. It's also one of the key tools I use to help with my addiction/alcoholism issues.

And please, if you're thinking of taking your own life reach out to someone.

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Re: Brain-stimulation trials get personal to lift depression

#6
A few years ago while working on my undergrad I helped proctor a study involving a similar technology--transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)--and it's impact on working memory. Although neither the tech nor the desired outcome in OP's article is identical to my undergrad project, the researchers are likely facing similar challenges which seem universal for low-current brain stimulation experiments:

- Effects are measurable but very very small

- Frequent stimulation is required to achieve the desired effect

- The desired effect diminishes over time

This seems really promising, particularly because they're changing the treatment for specific patients rather than using a one-size-fits-all model. I hope their trials go well.

Re: Brain-stimulation trials get personal to lift depression

#8

I question what safety measures they are putting in place to prevent some sort of negative feedback loop... I wonder if this has the potential issue with functioning properly based on a loop that compounds and compounds on itself.

Can you explain what you mean a little more? Are you just saying, your worried about someone getting more and more depressed by using the device?

Not necessarily... I can just imagine a scenario where the "algorithm" reacts based off of some stimulus in the brain and applies stimulation in an attempt to counteract that...

If there's so much as a small flaw and the stimulation it applies in return causes the original stimulus to worsen instead of be relieved, I could imagine the reaction from the algorithm continuing to make the situation worse if not carefully designed.

Re: Brain-stimulation trials get personal to lift depression

#9

This is interesting. On a recent Kevin Rose podcast he and his guest talked about targeted treatment for ADHD, dementia, etc. using video games. At one point they also discussed people using self-built gadgets to stimulate their own brain using electric current ( they do not recommend it though ). https://www.kevinrose.com/single-post/Adam-Gazzaley As an aside, I've found meditation to be very helpful in treating my…

Would love to be able to meditate. My brain just goes all over the place and it feels like I'm wasting my time.

Re: Brain-stimulation trials get personal to lift depression

#10
post #9

This is interesting. On a recent Kevin Rose podcast he and his guest talked about targeted treatment for ADHD, dementia, etc. using video games. At one point they also discussed people using self-built gadgets to stimulate their own brain using electric current ( they do not recommend it though ). https://www.kevinrose.com/single-post/Adam-Gazzaley As an aside, I've found meditation to be very helpful in treating my…

Would love to be able to meditate. My brain just goes all over the place and it feels like I'm wasting my time.

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