Transcranial direct stimulation refers to a treatment therapy offered by the passing of direct current through the head of a patient. It is a unique method of treatment which has been known to be helpful to patients with injuries like strokes. The treatment process is not complex and can even be carried out at the home of the patient by an expert therapist. TDCS involves the stimulation of brain neurons with some electric current which is passed from one point of the head, through the brain neurons, and to another point on the opposite of the first point.
Apart from helping with brain injuries like strokes, the therapy has been advanced to help with other problems affecting individuals. The process can be used to help improve the attention span, reduce memory losses and improve problem solving skills among more. All these can be achieved by having the electric current passed through the head of a patient from different points. This ensures that specific head neurons are stimulated to attain a certain effect on a patient.
The direct electric current used can be passed through the neurons in two different ways. One is by passing it from a positively charged electrode known as the anode while the other is by passing the current from the negatively charged electrode called a cathode. Each mode of current stimulation achieves a different effect. In most cases, one effect is the opposite of the other if the current is passed in the opposite direction.
The use of electric current in this whole process is to increase or reduce the excitement of different neurons in the brain. If the current is passed from the positively charged electrode, the result will be an increase in excitement of neurons in the brain. If passed from the cathode however, the resulting effect will be a reduction in the excitement of the neurons. In most cases, these modes bring about opposite effects of the same behavior.
This therapy is simple. It only requires the necessary equipment and some skills in rendering it. You need to have a powered device that can pass constant direct current during the exercise. You also need electrodes to help you pass current through the head of a patient. The number of electrodes to be used will vary depending on a therapist. Traditional methods have only been using two electrodes but modern methods use more than two.
Different therapists carry out the therapy in different ways. However, the common process involves cleaning the skin of the scalp where the electrodes will be placed. The electrodes are then placed carefully on the scalp and connected strongly to ensure there is a solid connection to effectively pass current from the electrodes to the skin.
The current can be adjusted gradually. It can be decreased or increased gradually depending on how the therapist desires as well as how the patient responds. It should however be constant throughout and not too high as it can be dangerous.
As technology advances, modern transcranial simulation continues to grow. There are new methods of conducting the stimulation to ensure the patient receives maximum effects from the process. This includes using many smaller electrodes to increase the level of a desired effect.
Apart from helping with brain injuries like strokes, the therapy has been advanced to help with other problems affecting individuals. The process can be used to help improve the attention span, reduce memory losses and improve problem solving skills among more. All these can be achieved by having the electric current passed through the head of a patient from different points. This ensures that specific head neurons are stimulated to attain a certain effect on a patient.
The direct electric current used can be passed through the neurons in two different ways. One is by passing it from a positively charged electrode known as the anode while the other is by passing the current from the negatively charged electrode called a cathode. Each mode of current stimulation achieves a different effect. In most cases, one effect is the opposite of the other if the current is passed in the opposite direction.
The use of electric current in this whole process is to increase or reduce the excitement of different neurons in the brain. If the current is passed from the positively charged electrode, the result will be an increase in excitement of neurons in the brain. If passed from the cathode however, the resulting effect will be a reduction in the excitement of the neurons. In most cases, these modes bring about opposite effects of the same behavior.
This therapy is simple. It only requires the necessary equipment and some skills in rendering it. You need to have a powered device that can pass constant direct current during the exercise. You also need electrodes to help you pass current through the head of a patient. The number of electrodes to be used will vary depending on a therapist. Traditional methods have only been using two electrodes but modern methods use more than two.
Different therapists carry out the therapy in different ways. However, the common process involves cleaning the skin of the scalp where the electrodes will be placed. The electrodes are then placed carefully on the scalp and connected strongly to ensure there is a solid connection to effectively pass current from the electrodes to the skin.
The current can be adjusted gradually. It can be decreased or increased gradually depending on how the therapist desires as well as how the patient responds. It should however be constant throughout and not too high as it can be dangerous.
As technology advances, modern transcranial simulation continues to grow. There are new methods of conducting the stimulation to ensure the patient receives maximum effects from the process. This includes using many smaller electrodes to increase the level of a desired effect.
