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 practice was first designed to help people diagnosed with brain injuries such as stroke in their therapy. It has however been advanced over the years to help with other various activities. This includes; improving attention span, increasing problem solving ability and reducing memory loss among others. The different effects can be achieved by placing the electrodes at different locations of the head. This leads to the stimulation of different neurons and hence different result are attained. The practice has been proven to be safe for use provided safety protocols are followed.
The treatment simply works by allowing current to pass from one end on the head to the other. This is enabled by the use of a positively charged electrode and a negatively charged one. The electrodes are directed to regions where if the current flows from them and into the brain, it will reach the desired electrodes. The therapist should carefully place them at designated points. Failure to this, different results will be obtained rather than the expected.
The current passed through these neurons is meant to increase their excitement or reduce it. By passing the current from an anode which is the positively charged electrode will lead to an excitement of the neurons. This makes them to be more active and hence the patient will be active in some activities. If the current is passed from the cathode which is negatively charged, the neurons excitement is reduced and thus they become less active.
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 power is then turned on and timed for a specific time. The current should be allowed to flow gradually. It can then be adjusted by increasing or reducing it to achieve a desired effect level. It should then automatically turn itself off.
The use of several electrodes also helps to increase the effectiveness of the results achieved. This is because there is more focus to the points desired. Results attained last more.
The practice was first designed to help people diagnosed with brain injuries such as stroke in their therapy. It has however been advanced over the years to help with other various activities. This includes; improving attention span, increasing problem solving ability and reducing memory loss among others. The different effects can be achieved by placing the electrodes at different locations of the head. This leads to the stimulation of different neurons and hence different result are attained. The practice has been proven to be safe for use provided safety protocols are followed.
The treatment simply works by allowing current to pass from one end on the head to the other. This is enabled by the use of a positively charged electrode and a negatively charged one. The electrodes are directed to regions where if the current flows from them and into the brain, it will reach the desired electrodes. The therapist should carefully place them at designated points. Failure to this, different results will be obtained rather than the expected.
The current passed through these neurons is meant to increase their excitement or reduce it. By passing the current from an anode which is the positively charged electrode will lead to an excitement of the neurons. This makes them to be more active and hence the patient will be active in some activities. If the current is passed from the cathode which is negatively charged, the neurons excitement is reduced and thus they become less active.
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 power is then turned on and timed for a specific time. The current should be allowed to flow gradually. It can then be adjusted by increasing or reducing it to achieve a desired effect level. It should then automatically turn itself off.
The use of several electrodes also helps to increase the effectiveness of the results achieved. This is because there is more focus to the points desired. Results attained last more.