GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
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GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
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Re: GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
#2Are the measured effects of tDCS really large enough to outweigh any effects from confirmation bias and statistical anomalies? Were the tests performed double-blind using placebo units?
Re: GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
#3Would be interesting to try this about 5 years after the first batch of users lead the charge.
If it has any effect then the side effects would be my first major concern.
Re: GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
#4I think this company does it too. But they have more products.
http://www.b-alert.com/products/index.html
Re: GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
#5Are the measured effects of tDCS really large enough to outweigh any effects from confirmation bias and statistical anomalies? Were the tests performed double-blind using placebo units?
Gotta agree with the placebo question here. When I'm having a really excellent learning day, it scares me how fast I learn. When I'm not, a 9V battery to the head doesn't sound like the worst idea...
Re: GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
#6Are the measured effects of tDCS really large enough to outweigh any effects from confirmation bias and statistical anomalies? Were the tests performed double-blind using placebo units?
This study (paywalled) http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811910... shows learning increasing with an increase in applied current, at least — 'This relationship between current strength and learning as measured by change in performance with training was well predicted by a linear model of current strength (r = 0.437, p = 0.0015). This suggests that there was a strong relationship between the amount of current administered during training and the amount of learning, within the range of current strengths tested here.'
Re: GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
#7This is a really interesting idea -- I wonder how many people will be willing to hook their brains into a $99 device.
tDCS has also been found to be effective in treating major despression (http://www.brainstimulation.columbia.edu/doc/journal_club/pa...)
Re: GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
#8Are the measured effects of tDCS really large enough to outweigh any effects from confirmation bias and statistical anomalies? Were the tests performed double-blind using placebo units?
Gotta agree with the placebo question here. When I'm having a really excellent learning day, it scares me how fast I learn. When I'm not, a 9V battery to the head doesn't sound like the worst idea...
Agreed. I listened to an article recently about a study that purported to show that wearing a 'lab coat' increased performance. Similarly, I believe that the tDCS results could be explained by a form of mental 'priming'.
Re: GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
#9So, some electrodes (easily available for TENS machines, or you could go more high-tech); conductive gel; one 9v battery; one 4500 ohm resistor; (or probably two batteries and a current regulator).
Does anyone have a map of cathode / anode electrode positions?
Re: GoFlow: a DIY tDCS brain-boosting kit
#10Are the measured effects of tDCS really large enough to outweigh any effects from confirmation bias and statistical anomalies? Were the tests performed double-blind using placebo units?
At the risk of appealing to authority, I have to assume that if DARPA is using it to train snipers, they know it works whether it's due to the tDCS or mental priming as mentioned below. Obviously, from a theoretical standpoint it's important to know why it's working but from a lifehacking/making better snipers/learning Perl/selling $99 tDCS kits standpoint, it doesn't matter how it works, only that it does.