Transcranial devices are not playthings

摘要: Controlled investigation of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) for treating neuropsychiatric disorders or neurorehabilitation should not be confused with improvised devices practices that apply electricity to the brain without reference established protocols (see Nature 498, 271-272; 2013). Unorthodox technologies and applications must allowed distort long-term validation tDCS. Experimentation outside tested norms may put subjects at risk. In tDCS, delivered dose electrical (defined by waveform intensity applied) electrode size, number position are all crucial. Safe effective ranges have been in clinical trials. Patients receiving tDCS do so a controlled environment, under guidance from institutional ethics review boards strict criteria patient inclusion. Meddling is potentially as dangerous tampering drug’s chemical composition. Painstaking efforts researchers understand risks benefits never interpreted encouraging such practices.