Transcranial direct stimulation is a practice that has been in existence for a while now. It can be carried out at special health units or even by individual therapies at the homes of patients. The whole process entails the stimulation of the brain neurons using some electric current that is passed from one point of the head to the other end. It uses some electrodes which are carefully placed on the head scalp to transmit the direct current through the brain area being stimulated. The tdcs process was initially developed to help patients with brain injuries like strokes.
The treatment has however been advanced and its applications made diverse. It can now be used to treat various different disparities in the brain such as improving attention span, reducing memory loss, increasing problem solving abilities and more. The different effects achieved with this process are attained by placing the electrodes at different points of the head to stimulate different neurons. The therapy is safe to use provided that all guidelines regarding its safety are adhered to.
The chemistry behind this technique is very simple. It only entails passing a current either from either electrode, through the brain neurons and to the other opposite charge electrode. The electrodes should be carefully set at areas where the simulation will be required. Wrong setting of the electrodes will lead to the attainment of different than the expected results.
The current is used to excite or reduce the excitement of neurons at the specific targeted areas in the brain. If the current flows from the anode electrode, that is the positively charged electrode, there will be an increase in the excitement of neurons. If the current flows from the cathode electrode which is negatively charged, the excitement of neurons will be reduced. This leads to the attainment of different behaviors as required by the therapist.
The process is quite easy and simple to set up provided that you have all the necessary equipment and skills needed to conduct it. First you need a power source that can deliver you direct constant current throughout the procedure. You also need an anode and cathode electrodes which are positively and negatively charged respectively. The electrodes should have pads that enable you to place them correctly and effectively on the scalp of a patient.
The skin where the pads will be placed should be cleaned and prepared well. This enables the pads to create a good connection to the skin. The pads should be small in size to ensure that they are more focused to the point of stimulation.
The process starts when the power device is turned on. The current is allowed to flow gradually from whichever electrode that the therapist desires. It can be increased or reduced gradually depending with the level of an effect desired.
In recent times, the therapy has adopted the use of several electrodes for the process other than just the common type that uses two. This ensures optimal simulation. In the end, long lasting and more effective results are achieved.
The treatment has however been advanced and its applications made diverse. It can now be used to treat various different disparities in the brain such as improving attention span, reducing memory loss, increasing problem solving abilities and more. The different effects achieved with this process are attained by placing the electrodes at different points of the head to stimulate different neurons. The therapy is safe to use provided that all guidelines regarding its safety are adhered to.
The chemistry behind this technique is very simple. It only entails passing a current either from either electrode, through the brain neurons and to the other opposite charge electrode. The electrodes should be carefully set at areas where the simulation will be required. Wrong setting of the electrodes will lead to the attainment of different than the expected results.
The current is used to excite or reduce the excitement of neurons at the specific targeted areas in the brain. If the current flows from the anode electrode, that is the positively charged electrode, there will be an increase in the excitement of neurons. If the current flows from the cathode electrode which is negatively charged, the excitement of neurons will be reduced. This leads to the attainment of different behaviors as required by the therapist.
The process is quite easy and simple to set up provided that you have all the necessary equipment and skills needed to conduct it. First you need a power source that can deliver you direct constant current throughout the procedure. You also need an anode and cathode electrodes which are positively and negatively charged respectively. The electrodes should have pads that enable you to place them correctly and effectively on the scalp of a patient.
The skin where the pads will be placed should be cleaned and prepared well. This enables the pads to create a good connection to the skin. The pads should be small in size to ensure that they are more focused to the point of stimulation.
The process starts when the power device is turned on. The current is allowed to flow gradually from whichever electrode that the therapist desires. It can be increased or reduced gradually depending with the level of an effect desired.
In recent times, the therapy has adopted the use of several electrodes for the process other than just the common type that uses two. This ensures optimal simulation. In the end, long lasting and more effective results are achieved.