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tDCS electrodes

Similar to a blend of calculator contact pad and a hair claw, these electrodes slide along at placement skipping pasting over hair, then are software optimized to send tiny currents to the right area to improve learning or performance
 
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tDCS is applying tiny currents like 9 V 1 or 2 mA to the exterior of the head to improve learning as well as performance. The journal Nature (link) notes this doubles capability at electronic tasks, The thing is that tDCS uses electrodes thus these new slide along, autoplace sensing, electrodes give untrained persons effective electrode placement.

Many people here have likely taken apart a calculator to see a grid of contact pads.

To create better tDCS contacts take a multicontact grid pad like that, then place at the side of the head. The software then stimulates each of the contact pads separately then sees if the persons ability at the software calibration task improves. The software then knows which of the contact pads has the most effective placement to improve learning or task ability, thus only uses that contact to do the stimulation. This may be further improved with a webcam that notes where on the persons head the electrode grid is located.

It gets better, with slide to place, rather than press to place electrodes.

putting electrodes directly on head hair seems messy, so sliding the electrodes along, between the hairs is better.

This idea already uses right area locator technology to autosense the right contact area. Replace the contact pad with a ZIF (zero insertion force) plurality of segmented linear contacts that simply slide at the side of the head (similar to glasses arms). the new slide to contact grid looks like

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where each line is made of segments. The software then finds the right one of the segments to be the contact area

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The person then moves a very light lever pressing all the contact into place. Possibly slightly similar to a ZIF IC connector

The entire thing could be held to place with either an elastic or something that looks rather like one of those hair claws The way hair claws look kind of scares me, yet they are really optimal as electrode replacers

You just stick the hair claw at the side of your head at wherever the protocol suggests, the software finds the right slide along segment at the right arm of the hair claw, then it stays there because it is a hair claw or an elastic.

beanangel, Apr 12 2012

tDCS casually described at Nature http://www.nature.c...3/full/472156a.html
[beanangel, Apr 12 2012]

images of "hair claw" http://www.bing.com...0-14&sp=-1&sk=#x0y0
[beanangel, Apr 12 2012]

Adhesive backed body jewels at 9v 1mA might look like these http://www.bing.com...g&sc=8-16&sp=-1&sk=
[beanangel, Apr 12 2012]

[link]






       side effects ?
FlyingToaster, Apr 12 2012
  

       They aren't sure. The experience is described as pleasant "flow like" The Nature paper wonders about a variety of things. I am hoping that if they use tDCS on a nonhuman mammal model of alzheimers that it will reduce alzheimers, thus creating a lifetime reduced risk, general benefit.   

       I suppose they could start with measuring pulse, respiration BPM to see if those change, which could suggest area to think about. if it raises these less than caffeine at recreational or food dosages these side effects might be ignorable. It is possible it might reduce asthma if it affects respiration slightly   

       It apparently more than doubles the rate of learning or attentiveness at certain tasks.   

       9v 1 mA is so miminal I think there will be a press on jewel (link) that does this soon
beanangel, Apr 12 2012
  
      
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