SpeakWisdom
About
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26 2014
Present at ions
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t DCS
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Almost Criminal – tDCS Still an Unknown Depression Treatment
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Get your FREE foc.us tDCS Headset User Guide (pdf). Now ver 2.2. Click the image below.
Introduction This blog post deals with a v ery important topic: treating depression with tDCS. tDCS . If you know anything at all about t ranscran ranscranial ial direct c urre urrent nt st imulation (tDCS), (tDCS), y ou surely know that it has been shown shown in studies and anecdotal reports reports to have v ery positive effect on many depression patients – ranging from those with dysthymia to persons persons with severe, debilitating, debilitating, drug resistant resistant depr depression. ession. It does not work work for everyone, but what treatment does? The beauty of tDCS is that it is incredibly simple, has a spotless safety record, has no significant sideeffects, and with a little training can be used by a depression sufferer at home or wherever w herever convenient. Lets review some sobering facts: depress depression ion is a worldwide epidemic. epidemic . In the US US alone, over 14 MILLION people suffer with some form of a major depressive disorder. About 1 in 10 adults now use some form of an antidepressant. Further, about 40,000 people per year commit suicide. (CDC)
Click tDCS at the top for more! Can a 9 Vol t Battery Save Save A Li…
What the numbers numbers don’t tell y ou is that many suffering with depression depression don’t receive effectiv e treatment – either because because they don’t have access, c an’t afford it, or commonly, are afraid of of the public stigma of having to deal with a brain disorder. And lets be clear depression depression is a brain disorder. For some, it can be treated effectively with “talk” t hera herapy. py. But for many, depression is rooted in a brain physiology and chemistry chemi stry problem and needs to be recognized and treated as such.
THE ROADMAP TO tDCS SUCCESS
It really bothers me that mental health professionals are still mostly oblivious to the existence of tDCS and its potential benefits benefits for the depressed. the depressed. Every mental health professional should be aware of tDCS and use it when it seems appropriate – perhaps before or in conjunction with drug therapy.
Let Me Speak To Your Group!
Three Examples Examples of tDCS Depression Treatment Montages
reduce depression and more? Contact me about speaking to your group.
tDCS involves placing electrodes on t he head and passing passing a very tiny direct current through through them in orderr to achieve a desired effect. Because the causes of depr orde depression ession are individualized, individualized, an electrode placement that works for one individual may not work for another. Current level may also need to be adjusted. It’s importan importantt t hat a depression patient being treated with tDCS be monitored to make sure progress prog ress is being made made as treatments c ontinue ontinue.. If no improvement improvement is detected after a few treatments, it may be time to try one of t he other depression depression montages. montages.
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Interested in tDCS, what it is, tDCS devices, how it can be used to improve learning,
Recent Posts Almost Criminal – tDCS Still an Unknown Depression Treatment
A normal depression depression treatment protocol is for 20 – 25 minutes of tDCS at 1, 1.5, or 2 mA at least 5 days per week week for 30 days. Treatmen Treatmentt is sometimes continued for an additional additional 30 days days for maximum result. “Booster” treatments treatments can be administered at anytime in t he future as needed needed if depression symptoms begin to reappear. reappear. Some individuals are unable to tolerate 2 mA t DCS due to ski n irritation.
foc.us tDCS Headset Battery Replacement THE ROADMAP TO tDCS SUCCESS Yea! The new app for the foc.us tDCS headset
Depression Montage #1
has arrived! Not in the Box: The SpeakWisdom Guide to Using the foc.us tDCS Headset Thoughts on the Use of tDCS in Education Settings A $7 Usabili ty Improvement for the the tDCSKit.com Device Can a 9 Volt Battery Save A Life – Even Yours? Product Review: tDCS-Kit.Com tDCS Devices DIY tDCS Safety Standards
The anode (+ lead) electrode is placed high on the left forehead while the cathode (- lead) electrode is placed on the right forehead. forehead. This is t he most c ommonly used depression montage. montage.
Depression Montage #2
The anode (+ lead) electrode is placed over the right temple while the cathode (- lead) electrode is placed over the left temple. This montage is interesting because not only c an it alleviate depression, it is associated with improvements in intuitive thinking.
Depression Montage #3
The anode (+ lead) electrode is placed over the left forehead (supraorbital region) and the cathode ( – lead) is placed over the occipital region (middle of the back of the head, about even with the ears.) This is a recently published montage that showed very promising results in a small st udy.
Helpful References If y ou are new to tDCS, may I suggest y ou at least examine the below: 1. www.speakwisdom.com 2. www.diytdcs.com 3. www.transcranialbrainstimulation.com
4. www.pubmed.gov (search for tDCS)
tDCS Devices tDCS devices are entering the marketplace with increasing frequency. Here are some suggested consumer level devices to examine (in no particular order): 1. www.foc.us (buy with accessory kit) 2. www.tdcs-kit.com 3. thebrainstimulator.net 4. www.trans-cranial.com/tc t/end-users-patients/tdcs-stimulator-products 5. www.cognitivekit.com There are many more tDCS devices in the market, including impressive, expensive, professional models.
Conclusion Its time for mental health professionals t o get serious about helping their patients needing more than talk therapy with something other than a prescription drug. There is plenty of evidence and anecdote that tDCS can help many depression patients at the same level or better than medications – without all the side-effects and expense. Do some research, attend a conference, speak to doctors now using tDCS and help end the epidemic of depression. By SpeakWisdom • Tagged antidepressant, depression, diy tdcs, diytdcs, dysthymia, foc.us, mental health, tDCS, tDCS Device, transcranial, transcranial direct c urrent stimulation
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foc.us tDCS Headset Battery Replacement
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I have a foc.us tDCS headset that was becoming unusable due to a failing battery. I decided to replace the battery mys elf rather that take the time and effort to return it to foc.us for repair. I thought you might want to see what is involved in battery replacement. It’s not a job for a novice – good soldering skill (and good vision) is required. If you don’t want to tackle t he job yourself, a local battery replacement shop might be able to do it as they often do soldering work. 2014
The battery in the foc.us headset is a small 3.7V, 150 mAh lithium polymer type (model 041230) and like any battery is prone to eventually fail. It is available from a number of sources – including EBay where I purchased mine for $3. By the way a single AA alkaline battery has a capacity of about 2,000 mAh – thus explaining the need to charge the foc.us headset fairly often. To replace the battery, you must remove the back cover which is held in place by two small torx-style screws. If y ou don’t have a small torx drive around, you may f ind a small flat-blade screwdriver will suffice. Once the sc rews are removed, gently bend the headband back and the cover can be lifted away. Inside you will find a s mall circuit board, the lithium polymer battery, and very t hin, delicate wires. Use great care as you work to avoid breaking a wire. You will need to gently lift the board off of the plastic pins that position it as the solder connections for the battery are on the underside of the board. You can then turn the board over for desoldering the old battery and soldering the new battery in place.
(With the cover removed, t he battery, circuit board, and thin c onnecting wires c an be seen.)
(I use a “third hand” to hold the board while I do soldering work. Note the red, positive battery lead is to the outside edge of the board.) Once the new battery is soldered in place, you c an return the circuit board to its alignment posts, place the battery on top of the c ircuit board, and then put the c over back in place. Be careful not to crimp the fine wires from the battery or those running to the electrode sockets. Once the cover is back on, reinsert and tighten the two torx screws and you are done! I suggest you give the headset a good two or three hour charge and it should be ready to go.
By SpeakWisdom • Tagged diy tdcs, diytdcs, foc.us, foc.us review, focus headset review, tDCS, tDCS Device, tDCS safety, transcranial, transcranial direct c urrent stimulation
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THE ROADMAP TO tDCS SUCCESS
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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a relatively new technology for treating illnesses lik e depression, chronic pain (and more) and for enhancing memory, creativit y, and various kinds of learning. tDCS is s imple, safe (according to current studies), and involves equipment and techniques that are available to almost anyone willing to put in the effort required to learn to use it correctly. 2014
This article is designed to provide a roadmap to succ essful and safe use of tDCS and so points to a number of references that should be reviewed before any attempt at using tDCS is made. If you will carefully examine the items lis ted below, you will be much better informed as you make decisions about tDCS and its appropriateness for you and your situation.
1. What is tDCS and How Does it Work? If y ou want to understand tDCS and what it is all about, y ou have to dig a littl e. Start with the basics: http://s peakwisdom.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/can-a-9-volt-battery-save-a-lifeeven-yours/ Please watch this v ideo: Prof. Vince Clark from UC Davis tDCS Summit 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=dUMUIXNeBRQ Then read this article (it’s a bit dense, but get what you c an): Transcranial DC Stimulation by Dave Siever, CET: https://www.mindalive.com/1_0/article%2011.pdf You should also review these safety standards: tDCS Safety St andards: http://speakwisdom.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/diy-tdcs-code-of-safety/
2. Pick a tDCS Device You have two choices – either build your own tDCS device or buy a commercial unit. Build it Yourself
A Simple tDCS Design: http://s peakwisdom.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/a-very-simple-current-regulatedtdcs-device/ Or a little more sophisticated device: http://speakwisdom.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/user-built-tdcsresearch-device/ Buy a tDCS Device Very Simple, Inexpensive: www.tdcs-kit.com (review at http://www.speakwisdom.com ) Also simple and inexpensive: http://thebrainstimulator.net/ The foc.us headset is sophisticated and capable: www.foc.us (I have a s eries of review articles on the foc.us headset at http://www.speakwisdom.com.)
Another very capable tDCS Device: www.trans-cranial.com The ActivaDose II is v ery popular. Technically it is an iontophoresis device but can be used for tDCS: http://www.scriphessco.com/products/activa-activadose-ii-iontophoresis-device/
Electrodes Look carefully at the electrodes that are (or are not) supplied with the tDCS device you purchase. The foc.us headset, for example, includes electrode sponges and is ready to go. Other suppliers provide stick-on electrodes which are generally not preferred. Most tDCS users and researchers have adopted reusable 3×3 sponge electrodes as a starting point. Amrex is a popular brand and is sold widely (including on Amazon.com). The Amrex sponges use a “banana” plug for connection. As such, you may need an adapter to go from your tDCS device to t he Amrex sponges. Most medical s uppliers c arry adapters (www.scriphessco.c om for example) or your tDCS device s upplier may have them.
3. USING A tDCS DEVICE As already mentioned, tDCS can be used to treat an assortment of illnesses or can be used to speed learning, improve memory, enhance creativity and more. Check these links for information on the “montage” that best suits your needs. General Electrode Placement: http://www.jove.com/video/2744/electrode-positioning-montagetranscranial-direct-current General Electrode Placements for learning, memory, depression, savant learning, and chronic pain: http://speakwisdom.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/the-foc-us-tdcs-headset-review-part-4-electrodeplacements/ Depression: http://speakwisdom.wordpress.com/2012/12/06/area-25-is-way-more-important-than-area51/ Depression: http://speakwisdom.wordpress.com/2013/03/23/4-inthe-youtube-series-treating-depressionwith-tdcs/ Researchers generally st art with a treatment time of 20 minutes once per day f or up to five days per week. A current level of 1 mA is s uggested while you adapt to the sc alp tingle that tDCS may c reate. 2 mA is generally too high for beginners and can cause considerable discomfort.
4. FINAL NOTES tDCS is a new and developing area of research. You should use due caution when attempting anything related to tDCS. Better, seek out a medical professional for tDCS guidance and assistance. In Atlanta, www.transcranialbrainstimulation.com is a great resource. You should also monitor multiple tDCS information resources such as www.pubmed.gov (search for tDCS), www.diytdcs.com, www.reddit.com/r/tDCS/ , and Google. I hope you find the information contained in this article useful and will vis it all of the postings I have on http://www.speakwisdom.com.
By SpeakWisdom • Tagged antidepressant, brain boosting, chronic pain, depression, diy tdcs, diytdcs, foc.us, focus headset review, tDCS, tDCS Device, tDCS kit, tdcs roadmap, tDCS safety, transcranial, transcranial direct current stimulation
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Yea! The new app for the foc.us tDCS headset has arrived!
After a long, long wait, we finally have a working iOS app to control the foc.us t DCS headset. While still needing some polish, the app released in January of 2014 gets the job done, allowing control of
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current, duration and treatment type.
(foc.us app, ver. 2) To get started, y ou need an iPhone 4s or later or and iPad 3 or later using iOS 7. Given those conditions, go to the App St ore, search for foc.us and you s hould have no trouble locating and installing the app. Then the fun begins! First – be aware that though this is version 2.0 of the foc.us app, think of it as a 0.99 version. It works, but has much polish and stability to be added yet. You will struggle with it a bit, but once you get the hang of it, you will find it usable in accessing the features of the foc.us headset. As foc.us adds some polish, this should become the app we’ve all been waiting for!
Getting Connected Make sure your foc.us headset is charged and ready to go and that Bluetooth is enabled on your iOS device. To Connect: 1. Start the foc.us app 2. Place your headset in “Ready” mode by touching the touch-button for three or four seconds. It should buzz and the blue foc.us logo should blink. 3. Touch “Bluetooth” at the bottom of the app screen. The headset should show in the list of available Bluetooth devices as “foc. us gamer”. Touch “Connect”. Note – if you take too long, the headset may drop out of “Ready” mode.
(App and headset connected) 1. Touch the “Current” circle and move the slider to the desired current level. If you are new at all of this, I suggest 1.0 mA . Touch “Change” to confirm.
(Setting the current level in the app) 1. Touch the “Duration” circle and move the slider as desired. Normally, tDCS sessions are 20 minutes (in research anyway.) Touch “Change” to confirm. 2. Touch “Mode”. Unless you have a specific research reason to do otherwise, I’d pick “Continuous” – that is tDCS.
(Pick Continuous for tDCS) Once the above selections are made, the tDCS session should start immediately. If y our tDCS session does NOT start immediately, t he app and your headset have probably lost c ontact with each other (even though the Bluetooth screen shows otherwise). I suggest closing t he foc.us app (double-click home on your iOS device, and flick the foc.us app UP to close it). START OVER at step 1 above. During the tDCS session, the “Duration” will count down minute by minute. At the end of the session there is a brief “buzz” from the headset to let y ou know the session is complete.
(Duration counts down as sess ion progresses)
Oddities 1. The app and the headset seem to lose sy nc with each other if you delay too long in making selections, c ancel a session, or do much other than the st eps I s how above. (Remember it’s really a 0.99 release.) 2. The duration reads “00” during the last 59 seconds of a session.
Update to my Free Guide to using the foc.us headset I’ll be adding these instructions and more to my f ree guide in the next f ew days. I’d appreciate any input you have as the objective i s to help headset users get the most from the product. The button to download the free guide is on the right side of my main blog page. By SpeakWisdom • Tagged antidepressant, brain boosting, chronic pain, diy tdcs, diytdcs, Education, foc.us, foc.us app, foc.us review, focus app, focus headset review, tDCS, tDCS Device, tDCS kit, tDCS safety, transcranial, transcranial direct current stimulation
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25 2013
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Not in the Box: The SpeakWisdom Guide to Using the foc.us tDCS Headset
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If you own or plan to buy a foc.us tDCS headset, you may be interested in the guide to using the headset that I have posted. The guide is an excellent walk-through of basic use and setup of this excell ent product. Whether your interested in improving memory, learning, performance on games, or relief from depression or chronic pain, tDCS may be right for you. The foc.us headset provides a very capable, aff ordable way to give tDCS a t ry.
See the link on the right side of the main page of www.speakwisdom.com for your FREE copy of the guide. I invite your comments and suggestions on the guide. Enjoy! Brent By SpeakWisdom • Tagged antidepressant, brain boosting, chronic pain, depression, diy tdcs, diytdcs, foc.us, foc.us instructions, foc.us review, foc.us user guide, focus headset review, tDCS, tDCS Device, test prep, transcranial direct current stimulation
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20 2013
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Thoughts on the Use of tDCS in Education Settings
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Why the Interest in tDCS? Research st udies and anecdotal evidence show that tDCS, a simple and safe way to stimulate t he brain, does have the ability to enhance memory, speed learning, improve physical skill, and enhance creativ ity. There are now well over 1,000 published studies of tDCS with more underway and research participation of institutions ranging from Harvard Medical, MIT, Emory University, to t he University of Alabama and dozens more.
(tDCS headset. http://www.foc.us ) Already, high-school and college students are catching on to just what tDCS may do for them. There are many YouTube and blog posts from and by students discussing their experience with tDCS and others asking for help in setting up and using a tDCS device. Some indicate substantial improvement in their performance with tDCS. As tDCS devices become more accessible and word of it continues to spread through popular press and internet resources (NYT, Nature, Scientific American and many others have already published tDCS articles), educators c an eventually expect to be confronted with some significant ethical and policy questions. While it’s dif ficult to pin-down an exact percentage improvement s tudents see in their work, (more studies are required), students use words lik e “significant”, “substantial”, and “surprising” in their comments. As time goes on, not only will more students demand access to tDCS, it is likely that parents, seeking greater success f or their children, will encourage its use.
How Might tDCS Be Used by Students During study for tests – including high-stakes (SAT, etc.) Learning lists of material (names, dates, places, events, etc.) Learning new languages (spoken and written) Improving athletic skill Enhancing creativity in writing, art, film production, etc. To reduce or eliminate depression (a common problem in student populations)
Ethical Issues Educators must face the reality that c ertain students will “brain boost” using tDCS and by doing so, improve their classroom performance as well as on assorted tes ts that are common in education settings. E ven “high-stakes” test outcome could be positively influenced for students making proper use of tDCS. St udent athletes may use tDCS to improve their performance on the tennis court or football field. If a student using tDCS for study c an perform 10% better on an SAT t est than an equally talented student who does not possess a tDCS device, is there a fairness or ethical issue? If a student has a learning disability and through the use of tDCS is able to perform at “nondisability” levels, is there a fairness or ethical issue? Will we now enter a new era of “haves and have not’s” in K-12 and higher-education learning? Will students from middle-class and above families, able to afford a device and related training, take advantage of it while lower income, less advantaged students will go without? If tDCS, well used, can improve test scores, is that not ultimately going to be very significant in the lives of some students?
(George Mason University)
Policy Questions If t DCS is going to play some role in the liv es of K -12 and higher ed students in the coming years, then perhaps it’s time to begin creating policy to address tDCS – including: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Will tDCS use be permitted (even though it will be impossible to regulate home use)? Will students be trained in proper tDCS use in school? (or after school) Will schools provide tDCS devices for students when the family cannot afford it? Will schools encourage tDCS as a means to improve test sc ores? Will school clinics offer tDCS treatments for those suff ering with depression (rather than medicate them?) 6. Will legal liability is sues limit the ability of sc hools to responsibly encourage and direct the use of tDCS in education settings? tDCS is a wonderful thing! It has the potential to help the human condition on so many levels – from depression to Parkinson’s disease, with learning enhancements thrown in as a bonus. How will we, as educators, respond to this f ascinating new capability – which s tudents have already discovered? Let the dialog begin! Contact me via
[email protected] For more information on tDCS see www.speakwisdom.com, http://www.diytdcs.com , http://www.transcranialbrainstimulation.com, http://www.pubmed.gov, and Google! By SpeakWisdom • Tagged antidepressant, brain boosting, chronic pain, depression, diy tdcs, diytdcs, Education, education policy, foc.us, Higher Education, K-12, tDCS, tDCS Device, tDCS kit, tDCS safety, transcranial, transcranial direct current stimulation
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9 2013
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A $7 Usability Improvement for the tDCSKit.com Device
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I recently reviewed the tDCS-Kit.com devices and found them to be useful but “bare-bones”. For about $40 you get a current regulated tDCS device that puts out a max of about 2 mA. ( See http://speakwisdom.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/product-review-tdcs-kit-com-tdcs-devices/ ) While I’m not a fan of the USB v ersion, the 9-volt battery version deserves consideration. Being “bare-bones”, the device is a bit harsh on start-up and shutdown and offers no control of the current delivered other than the 2 mA limit. I constantly receive emails and messages from folks from all over the world complaining that they cannot afford the $250 (or more) the more sophisticated t DCS devices cos t. Yet they are desperate for help with depression, chronic pain, etc. So the price of the tDCS-kit.com device is attractiv e – it provides a s erviceable tDCS device at a very low cost.
(tDCS-Kit.com Device) With a very simple modific ation, the tDCS-kit.com device can have current c ontrol! That means you can start and end a tDCS session by ramping current up and down in a comfortable way – and limit ing current at a desired level (say 1 or 1.5 mA.) Here is what you need: 1. 5 k-Ohm linear potentiometer RS part 271-1714 $3.49 1. Project box RS part 270-1801 $3.49 1. Knob from your junk box or other source You also need the ability (or have a friend) who can do some basic soldering. Simply put, the potentiometer will be connected ACROSS the anode and cathode lead from the tDCSkit.c om device. It will act as an adjustable alternate pathway for current so that not all of the 2 mA from the tDCS device will pass through your head. Along the way, you may want to replace the “pin” style connectors with alligator clips (my preference) or banana plugs.
(Simple diagram of the mod to the the tDCS-Kit.com device.)
(I put the potentiometer in a little project box. Note that I c lipped the pin connectors off and soldered the red-striped lead to the center of the potentiomet er. The red anode lead to the electrode also goes there. The black cathode leads are soldered to the bottom terminal of the potentiometer.)
(Complete! tDCS-Kit module is at the left . Leads t o electrodes appear at t he right.) May I suggest you also spend a litt le money and buy a digital multi-meter (many for $10 or less.) You will need that to monitor the current level you are using for your tDCS session. The multi-meter is set to read current and is placed in series with the red (anode) lead and connects to that electrode. With the modification shown above, you c an vary current up to the max of 2 mA t hat the device will deliver. Warning: Disconnect the battery when not using the device as there will always be a load present. I think you will find this simple modification makes the tDCS-Kit.com device far more versatile and comfortable to use. As with any DIY tDCS project, you are responsible for your own actions and safety. If y ou are not s ure what you are doing STOP and get help from a professional and/or read, read, read about tDCS. By SpeakWisdom • Tagged antidepressant, chronic pain, depression, diy tdcs, diytdcs, Education, foc.us, tDCS, tDCS Device, tDCS kit, tDCS safety, tDCS-kit.com, transcranial, transcranial direct c urrent s timulation
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5 2013
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Can a 9 Volt Battery Save A Life – Even Yours?
A 9 Volt Battery??? It’s becoming very clear that persons with serious brain related issues can, in many cases, be very effectively treated with the simple application of an extremely low current to the scalp, s ourced from a common battery! Nothing painful, exotic, complicated, or dangerous is involved. Y es, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can be used to treat depression, chronic pain, and is being researched as an aid for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s patients. But TDCS has also been shown to be an effecti ve way to speed learning, ease memorization, and enhance creativity. As an example of how far ranging tDCS use is, the US Air Force and Army have apparently been using tDCS techniques to improve cognitive capabilities for years!
(Scientific American) I’ve been completely fascinated by tDCS since I first learned of it. What other technology is so simple yet has t he potential to help so many – whether it be to treat depression, chronic pain, or just dramatically improve the ability to learn or memorize almost anything. What else does all of that with almost no risk or side-effects? Why this isn’t t he lead story on the evening news and your local paper is hard to explain. Think this is all hocus-pocus? Many big name research institutions around the world are now involved in tDCS including MIT, Harvard Medical School, E mory University, University of Michigan, the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, University Medicine Berlin, The City College of New York and many more. A quick look at http://www.pubmed.gov will reveal that over 900 studies of tDCS have now been published! What is the treatment? tDCS basically involves using a tiny amount of energy from a battery applied in particular locations on the scalp, depending on the effect desired. A one or two milliamp ( 0.001 amp) direct current is applied via saline-wetted sponges to two points on the head. For example, for depression the negative lead is placed just above the right eye on the forehead and the positive lead goes high on the left-forehead.) For depression, typical treatment lasts about 20 minutes once a day for about 30 days and the person receiving the treatment feels nothing other than a sli ght tingle. Treatment can easily done at home. That’s it. No expensive medications with unpredictable results and terrible side effect s. I t works! Wow! Big pharma is not going to be happy about this! tDCS treatment hardware is so simple that people (sometimes desperate for help and at the end of their
rope) are building their own tDCS treatment systems (about $50 in parts at Radio Shack will do! Instructions are on the web.)
(An example tDCS device built by the author) While assembled tDCS equipment sold by vendors in the US normally requires a prescription (raising the price to $300 or more), the safety record of tDCS has caused the FDA and suppliers to “look the other way” allowing a number of vendors to now begin offering tDCS equipment directly to individuals. For example, a company by the name of foc.us has recently started shipping a feature laden tDCS headset which s ells for about $250.
(medgadget.com) There are doctors and clinics now offering tDCS services. One of the better known is in Atlanta – see http://www.transcranialbrainstimulation.com/ Here’s a quote from the Atlanta clinic website, “Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a safe, non-invasive therapy for treatment-resistant neurologic, psychiatric and chronic pain disorders. You can increase memory and learning with tDCS, too. Effect ive, easy-to-do, inexpensive and without side eff ects, tDCS can be done in the outpatient clinic or, for the appropriate patient, in the home which provides obvious advantages. “ So, Can a 9 Volt Battery Save a Life – Even Yours? The Centers for Disease Control reports that about 10% of Americans are clinically depressed and either on medication or in need of it. Also, about 40,000 people per year commit suicide in the US! This huge depression/suicide problem is not being effectiv ely addressed because many who need treatment will not seek it out. Why? There are several possible reasons including the stigma of depression and its t reatment, lac k of access t o appropriate care, the high cost of treatment and medications, etc. tDCS is inexpensive, simple, side-effect free, and shown to have positive effect in many scientific studies. In my opinion, It should be in the “tool kit” of every doctor and mental health professional. I’ll c lose for now and provide you with some links to investigate. t DCS looks to be a bombshell that could literally transform the lives of many, many people. It probably deserves your awareness!
To get you started: I have a large number of tDCS related articles and links on my website: www.speakwisdom.com General Interest Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcranial_direct-current_stimulation tDCS – Scientific American and the Air Force: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=amping-up-brain-function General Interest Article with Many References
http://www.mindalive.com/articlenten_Transcranial_DC_Stimulation.htm British Journal of Psychiatry: http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/200/1/52.abstract http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/200/1/10.abstract Interesting Video and Text about Electrode Positioning: http://www.jove.com/video/2744/electrode-positioning-montage-transcranial-direct-current Atlanta Doctor Providing tDCS Services: http://www.transcranialbrainstimulation.com tDCS Headset: www.foc.us Links to more tDCS information http://www.diytdcs.com By SpeakWisdom • Tagged antidepressant, chronic pain, depression, diy tdcs, diytdcs, Education, Education Crisis, foc.us, focus headset review, tDCS, tDCS Device, tDCS kit, transcranial, transcranial direct c urrent stimulation
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3 2013
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Product Review: tDCS-Kit.Com tDCS Devices
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Introduction If you are new to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and unfamiliar with it, may I suggest you click on the tDCS link above and read some of my other posts. This post assumes that you are at least somewhat familiar with tDCS and are curious about the device offering from tDCS-Kit.com.
The Products tDCS-Kit.com offers two very interesting and potentially useful tDCS devices, one powered by a 9 volt battery (pretty common setup in the world of tDCS) and another more unique (and perhaps riskier) powered from a USB port. According to tDCS-Kit.com, both use an LM-334 regulator to produce a maximum current of about 2 mA, depending on electrodes and other factors (more below).
(tDCS-Kit.com tDCS Device powered by 9 volt B attery. Pic from the web)
(tDCS-Kit.com tDCS Device powered by USB. Pic from the web) What really s ets the products f rom tDCS-kit.com apart from other tDCS offerings is simplicity and price. $39.95? Are you kidding? You could hardly build a device yourself for less money.
What’s Included? You get a “cable” that connects to t he power source (9v or USB) – it has t he regulator circuitry in a small housing about mid-cable. At the end are anode and cathode pin-style connectors for elect rodes. tDCS-Kit includes a small s tarter selection of electrodes to get y ou going and a small c arry-bag, but you will need more electrodes v ery quickly. See my suggestion below.
(Small kit of electrodes supplied. Pic from t he web)
Operation It’s about as simple as it gets. You decide upon electrode placement (by carefully researching on your own). tDCS-Kit does not supply montage information. An assortment of links at tDCS-kit.com get you started on your research. After placing your electrodes, you connect the cable to the appropriate power source and off you go.
Limitations 1. tDCS-Kit dev ices do not ramp the current up or down as a session begins and ends, so you are likely to see a phosphene. You may also feel pronounced, even uncomfortable, tingling as current begins to f low. The devices do not include any form of t imer – that is left up to you. Finally, t he devices do not report actual current delivered in any way. You are left to guess how much current is actually flowing – from 0 to 2 mA. 2. You may have difficulty reaching an effective treatment current level with the supplied stick -on, gel electrodes (or those that you might buy). Gel electrodes always have some “built in” coupling
resistance by nature. The resist ance level is highly variable by brand/model of electrode – from hundreds to thousands of ohms! This can be a problem because the source voltage is only 5 or 9 volts (USB or 9 volt battery model.) Professional model tDCS devices overcome this resistance by automatically raising delivery v oltage via a “buck converter” or similar circuit – some as high as 80 volt s! The tDCS-kit devic es cannot do this. BTW Saline wetted sponges are typically much closer to zero ohms due to salt-water contact with the skin. 3. I’m very c oncerned about the USB model of the tDCS-Kit device. Yes – I err on the safety side in saying this, but it’s possible that sooner or later someone will be hurt by connecting the USB device to an electrical outlet source. An unlikely and unusual failure might get them hurt – or killed. I have a strong stand that for the DIY tDCS world at least, no tDCS device should be directly or indirectly connected to a wall electrical outlet. It’s not worth the risk and is certainly not necessary.
(Never, ever, do this!) 4. It’s my experience that some people cannot handle tDCS at 2 mA due to skin sensitiv ity or other issues. I haven’t seen any problems with 1 mA treatments and very few at 1.5 mA. Perhaps tDCSKit should offer some lower current alternatives with 1.5 mA being a good middle ground.
Suggestions If y ou are planning purchase of a t DCS-Kit device, may I suggest: 1. Buy the 9 volt battery device and avoid the temptations of USB that c ould really get you hurt. 2. If y ou must buy the USB device, get a low current reserve “USB Battery” – about $10 on Amazon – and only connect the device to that battery. Make s ure you get one with a full-size USB socket. Never connect to a USB power adapter! I would not even connect to a laptop or tablet. tDCS-Kit indicates their devices are fuse protected. But why take the risk?
(USB Battery. Pic from Amazon.com) 3. Use some method to measure delivered current (DVM for example). Otherwise how do you have any idea if you are properly following a treatment montage? 4. My test s show that you will have trouble reaching desirable current level (reliably) using gel electrodes. You might consider sponge electrodes instead (the Amrex 2” are very popular and available from a number of sources – including Amazon.) You will need to make or buy an adapter for the Amrex electrodes – they use a banana style plug. A simple adapter can be made with an alligator-clip lead. Cut off one end and attach a banana plug. The other alligator clip can connect to t he tDCS-Kit pin-plug.
Wrap-Up The tDCS-Kit devices represent a bare-bones, low-cost way to get a tDCS device. This is not an ActivaDose or foc.us headset. The build quality seems very good, but you must recognize and understand the feature limitations of the devices and buy only if you are prepared to deal with them. Remember it is DIY. As with everything DIY tDCS, it is up to you to do your homework, be well informed, and make sure your priority is s afety. By SpeakWisdom • Tagged antidepressant, chronic pain, depression, diy tdcs, diytdcs, foc.us, tDCS, tDCS Device, tDCS kit, tDCS-kit.com, transcranial, transcranial direct c urrent stimulation
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DIY tDCS Safety Standards
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The do-it-yourself t ranscranial direct c urrent st imulation (DIY tDCS) community is growing in numbers and sophistication – particularly as new studies are published and tDCS devices emerge in the marketplace. It may be time t o be a bit more proactive in providing safety information to many who will become curious enough about tDCS to want to try it. 2013
I’d like to propose DIY tDCS Safety Standards (better name welcome). Below is a draft for your comment. Perhaps if we can get some agreement on content and wording, those of us who publish tDCS blogs and websites as well as vendors could consider posting it somewhere on their site. By proposing this code of s afety, I ’m not encouraging anyone to try tDCS, but I know it’s happening – so guidance is appropriate and necessary. DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT (Your comments welcome. I’ll repost blog this as I edit it with your suggestions.)
DIY tDCS Safety Standards As a potential or current do-it-yourself tDCS user I agree to the following: 1. I will, if reasonably possible, seek out a medical professional for tDCS advice, treatments and follow-up. 2. If I have cranial scar tissue, an implant, or other unusual medical condition, I will seek clearance from my doctor before using tDCS. If I have a s eizure disorder I will refrain from using tDCS or use it only under direct supervision of qualified medical personnel. 3. I will not, under any circumstances, directly connect a battery to my head. I understand that I could greatly exc eed the maximum 2 mA c urrent limit used by tDCS researchers, poss ibly harming myself in the process. 4. I understand that electronic components can fail unpredictably. For this reason, I will never plug a tDCS device directly or indirectly into an electrical outlet. I understand that by doing so a s imple component failure could result in death (or worse). 4a. If I do not have a s olid understanding of electrical and electronic concepts, components, and procedures, I will not attempt to build a tDCS device. 5. I will not exceed 30 minutes in a tDCS session. This is the maximum used in tDCS research. I will use the “buddy system” and never proceed with a tDCS session without someone else present who is familiar with the shutdown process for my tDCS device – or who can at least remove electrodes and summon additional help should that be necessary. 6. I will use some means to verify the current level being produced by my tDCS device. This c ould be from a built-in ammeter or an external digital volt meter (DVM). I will never exceed the 2 mA limit used by tDCS researchers. 7. I will use electrode placements that have been studied and published by respected researchers and not simply guess or experiment with electrode placement. I will do my best to stay abreast of tDCS research and development. 8. If I detect any undesirable effect from tDCS, I will immediately cease use until the cause is clearly understood and corrected. 9. I will not experiment on friends, family, associates, or others. It is up to each individual to read, research, and understand the risks, benefits, and limitations of tDCS and make their own decision about it s appropriateness to their situation, preferably in consultation with a medical professional. I will never use tDCS on children or animals. 10. I understand that, with regard to DIY t DCS and any act ions I might take, I am responsible for my own well-being and above all else, safety and wise decisions will be my primary concerns.
By SpeakWisdom • Tagged diy tdcs, diy tdcs safety standards , diytdcs, foc.us, tDCS, tDCS Device, tDCS kit, tDCS safety, tdcs wisdom, transcranial, transcranial direct c urrent stimulation
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