Feeling depressed? Drop the antidepressants. Go for the TMS -- an electromagnet held over the head to provide relief that seems to be just as effective as that provided by the pills, but with fewer side effects.
Feeling at bit dull in the brain? Not learning fast enough? Don't worry. A dose of electrical current into the scalp will stimulate learning and thinking skills that can transform a slow learner into a faster one, and perhaps refine many into geniuses.
Welcome to the brave new world of mind technologies - a line of non-invasive and seemingly effective tools for boosting brain power.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS
Because depressed patients have demonstrated reduced activity in the brain, researchers have worked to develop tools that can stimulate neuronal activity. Electroconvulsive therapy or ECT, for example, is an instrument that sends a strong shock of current (600 milligrams) through the cortex to trigger changes in neuronal chemistry. While this treatment has been very effective, it can incite seizures and produce a host of side effects, such as memory loss.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, by contrast, is a noninvasive form of brain stimulation that many consider relatively risk free. FDA and Health Canada approved, TMS works by using magnets to induce electric currents that influence neuronal activity in the frontal cortex. A magnetic coil placed above the head produces an energy field as strong as that of an MRI scanner. Patients are given a series of treatments lasting about 40 minutes with few, if any, side effects.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ( tDCS)
Unlike TMS, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation is a process that attaches electrodes onto the surface of the scalp, allowing a small current (1-2 milliamps) to pass through. These electrodes can target the current towards specific areas in the brain.
Studies have shown that tDCS has proven to be beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer's, depression and pain management. It is also currently being studied as a tool for brain enhancement. According to David Robson, tDCS has been shown to improve mathematical skills and cognitive performance, a definite asset for those working on boosting brain power.
Ultrasound Stimulation in the Brain
Moving beyond magnetic and electrical stimulation, biomedical engineer William Tyler is exploring the use of ultrasound to stimulate the brain. In many ways, ultrasound seems to be a much more capable and effective technology because the mechanics developed for processing ultrasound engineering have the ability to reach any area in the brain.
According to Clare Wilson, the capacity of ultrasound is similar to that of electrical deep brain stimulation; both are capable of focusing on a 1-3 cubic millimeters brain area. Moreover, researchers are able to converge several beams together to target areas deep in the brain without disturbing overlying tissues. So far, the technology has been used to "silence" brain tissue responsible for triggering seizures; it has also been used to treat Parkinson's disease and depression.
Because of their depth of penetration, ultrasound waves allow researchers to influence the visual activity in rabbits' brains, trigger activity in the motor cortex and even moderate hormones or neurotransmitters which means that ultrasound may ultimately be used to control psychiatric disorders, obesity and addiction.
Another advantage is that, unlike the other mind technologies, ultrasound has had a history within the scientific community; it is already an established tool within the medical community. Its acceptance as an instrument for boosting brain power is therefore much more viable.
Tyler sees much promise in the deployment of ultrasound; he foresees the delivery of ultrasound in headsets for uses in communication, therapy and gaming.
Empowering as they might seem, these new tectonics on the horizon call for a measure of caution. While they seem to be safer than the use of prescription drugs, we need to ask questions regarding their safety over the long term.
Will these tools dispense entirely with the need for prescription drugs? Or are they supplementary measures that are effective only over the short term?
Will they create a new form of dependence on technology that might not serve humanity well over the course of time?
And finally, what implications will there be for universal access to mind engineering created solely for boosting brain power? How will this access redefine what it means to be human?
Sources
- Emily Singer, " Targeting the Brain with Sound Waves, " Technology Review Online
- Clare Wilson, "Mind Controls: Eight New Tools to Boost Your Brain," New Scientist Online.
Mary Desaulniers - I am a retired teacher and grandmother looking forward to the next 30 or more years with great relish and enthusiasm. My passions are ...
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