Sparking Memories with Electrical Stimulation
From: IEEE Spectrum - 04/20/2017
By: Emily Waltz

For years, brain researchers have experimented with electrical stimulation as
a way to improve memory, but with mixed results. The problem with these
approaches may have been a matter of timing, according to a report published
today in the journal Current Biology. Electrical stimulation should be
delivered to the brain precisely when memory is predicted to fail—and not
when a memory network is operating efficiently, say the authors of the report.

The proof-of-concept study offers the first clear indication for when to
stimulate the brain in a way that affects memory. The study also marks the
first major milestone of the US military’s $77 million program to develop an
implantable device that improves memory for people with traumatic brain
injury (TBI).

Read the entire article at:
http://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/sparking-memories-with-electrical-stimulation

Links:
Direct Brain Stimulation Modulates Encoding States and Memory Performance in Humans
http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(17)30326-3

Treating Depression With tDCS: Startup Ybrain Aims for the Mainstream
http://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/treating-depression-with-tdcs-startup-ybrain-aims-for-the-mainstream

Olympic Athletes Are Electrifying Their Brains, and You Can Too
http://spectrum.ieee.org/biomedical/bionics/olympic-athletes-are-electrifying-their-brains-and-you-can-too

The Latest DIY Craze: Brain Hacking
http://spectrum.ieee.org/geek-life/reviews/the-latest-diy-craze-brain-hacking

Brain Hackers Beware: Scientist Says tDCS Has No Effect
http://spectrum.ieee.org/biomedical/ethics/brain-hackers-beware-scientist-says-tdcs-has-no-effect