Brain power with tDCS

At long last, scientist are in the process of creating a metaphorical battery to help power up the brain! Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, or tDCS, uses a low amperage electrical current delivered directly to the scalp and stimulates the surface of the neocortex.  This electrical current can then be used as a neuromodulator to excite or inhibit specific brain functions.  This can then be used to alter mood, cognition, and/or behavior!  By using electrical stimulation scientist are able to either reduce the firing rate of neurons or increase the strength and quality of the neuronal connections in the brain.  When paired with a learning activity to increase or decrease a certain ability or behavior.  By adding this extra “juice” to the brain, the neuronal connections that are being formed help create sustained changes in mood, cognition, or behavior because it induces neural plasticity!  This can be controlled by placing one electrode over the target brain area and the other electrode, where the current leaves the body from, at a different region of the brain or a neutral place like the person’s shoulder.  The cerebral blood flow of the test subjects have been measured and reveal that positive currents increase blood flow by approximately 18-25% while the negative currents decrease blood flow by about 52%, thereby proving a physiological change has occurred.  Though the changes in blood flow are merely transient, data suggests that test subjects perform better at performing complex visual tasks than the control group.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5058330/