Difference between revisions of "TDCS-KIT"

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Along with tDCS method, there are other techniques under research, which concern neuropsychiatric disorders issues. A study <ref>GEORGE, Mark S a Gary ASTON-JONES. Noninvasive techniques for probing neurocircuitry and treating illness: vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Neuropsychopharmacology [online]. 2009, 35(1), 301-316 [05.12.16]. DOI: 10.1038/npp.2009.87. ISSN 0893133x. Available online at: http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/npp.2009.87</ref> mentions three noninvasive brain stimulating technologies. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
 
Along with tDCS method, there are other techniques under research, which concern neuropsychiatric disorders issues. A study <ref>GEORGE, Mark S a Gary ASTON-JONES. Noninvasive techniques for probing neurocircuitry and treating illness: vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Neuropsychopharmacology [online]. 2009, 35(1), 301-316 [05.12.16]. DOI: 10.1038/npp.2009.87. ISSN 0893133x. Available online at: http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/npp.2009.87</ref> mentions three noninvasive brain stimulating technologies. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
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There are many other DIY kits using tDCS method:
+
There are many other DIY kits using tDCS method, for example:<br />
−
The BrainStimulator<ref>https://thebrainstimulator.net [05.12.16]</ref>
+
*The BrainStimulator<ref>https://thebrainstimulator.net [05.12.16]</ref><br />
−
The Apex Device<ref>https://apexdevice.net/[05.12.16]</ref>
+
*The Apex Device<ref>https://apexdevice.net/[05.12.16]</ref>
 
As the first device used for transcranial direct-current stimulation, the [[GoFlow]] device developed by students at the University of Michigan is considered. <ref>WEXLER, Anna. A pragmatic analysis of the regulation of consumer transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) devices in the United States. Journal of Law and the Biosciences [online]. 2015, Oct 12. Available online at: http://jlb.oxfordjournals.org/content/2/3/669.full.pdf+html (Retrieved 1st November, 2016) </ref>
 
As the first device used for transcranial direct-current stimulation, the [[GoFlow]] device developed by students at the University of Michigan is considered. <ref>WEXLER, Anna. A pragmatic analysis of the regulation of consumer transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) devices in the United States. Journal of Law and the Biosciences [online]. 2015, Oct 12. Available online at: http://jlb.oxfordjournals.org/content/2/3/669.full.pdf+html (Retrieved 1st November, 2016) </ref>
  

Revision as of 22:09, 5 December 2016

TDCS KIT
TDCS kit.jpg
Category Brain stimulation
Developer www.tdcs-kit.com
Announced unknown
Released Developers: unknown
Consumers: unknown
Price 39.95 USD
Max output 22 T
2 mA
0.002 A
mA
Session duration 2020 s
0.333 minute
min
Scalp location temple
Weight g unknown
Controls

switch

Data available limited
Risk factor moderate
Medical prescription no
www.tdcs-kit.com

The Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation kit (TDCS-kit) is a specific model of an electronic device used to enhance human cognition[1] and help patients with brain injuries or psychiatric conditions like major depressive disorder.[2]

  • It is "a drug free (DIY) method to increase Concentration as well as relief for Depression, Anxiety and Migraines."[3]

The functionality of the device is based on the method known as Transcranial direct-current stimulation, which the brain and particular neurons are stimulated by, with a constant current via electrodes mounted on the scalp.[4]
The kit is delivered as Do-It-Yourself (DIY) solution and must be assembled by the customer. The reseller also disclaims all of responsibility and consequences caused by using the device.[5]

http://www.tdcs-kit.com/

Main characteristics

Purpose

The main purpose of TDCS-KIT is to enhance human cognitive abilities. This device should have positive effect on concentration, anxiety, migraines, memory, math reasoning, verbal proficiency, pain management, stroke recovery, Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia.[6]

Company & People

No details about the seller of tDCS-kit are available, one possible way how to find out who stands behind the product is sending a query over WHOIS protocol, which obtains the information about the registration of website domain.
The result of WHOIS query (shortened): [7]

  • Registrant Name: James Watson
  • Registrant State/Province: Texas
  • Registrant Country: US

Important Dates

  • September 2012 - The internet domain tdcs-kit.com was registered.[7]
  • June 2014 - Facebook profile of tDCS-kit.com was created.
  • November 2014 - Twitter profile was created.
  • January 2015 - The video explaining how to get started using the tDCS-Kit device was uploaded to the manufacturer youtube channel. [8]

Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment

This method should be effective for depression, chronic pain, it may enhance human cognition. Studies claim, that tDCS enhances everything from creative-problem solving to the improvement of motor skills. [9] These information are available about the particular method, which should be used as a medical treatment, but not as a DIY device at home. Although the effects of tDCS kit devices are described as “improve your attention”, “boost your memory,” “amp your mind,” or “power up?”, these are only advertising slogans to sell the product, but the scientists are warning againts using kits at home. For example in article: "Transcranial devices are not playthings."[10]

Ethical & Health Issues

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) kit is a simple means of brain stimulation, which is relatively safe, inexpensive and effective, but in fact, there are some ethical and health issues related to the device. There is currently no evidence of serious side-effects by using tDCS kit, but 'there are still significant potential risks of misusing this device, and its long-term effects on the brain have not been fully explored' [9]

These kits are widely available without medical prescription and the users of DIY devices may not have sufficient knowledge on the structure of brain to place the electrodes accurately, what can cause unintended effects. Reversing of anodal and cathodal electrodes placement could lead to other results and there is a risk of brain impairment. [11] Using this method without medical supervision can influence other treatment that DIY users are undergoing. [11] These problems are related with the current lack of regulation. In this case, the users can have the impression, that there are no significant risks associated with buying and using this device. Thus the solution of these ethical problems is the cognitive enhancement devices to be regulated in the same way as medical devices.[12] 'A response to the policy and regulatory aspects of tDCS is urgently needed.'[13]'Some neurostimulation devices are already classified and regulated as medical devices by FDA. For example, in 2011, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.'[9]

And last but not least using of tDCS kit like a form of human cognitive enhancement could change human psyche, this could be deemed as an intervention in human nature. That influences social status and many other issues related to it.

According to the study, in which the users of tDCS kits were asking about the side effects, was experiented headache, sickness, fatigue, nervousness, visual perceptual changes, acute mood changes, difficulties in concentration, sleeping disturbance and itching or burning under the electrodes. [9] Just as the positive effects on cognitive functions are these side effects very individual and there can be also placebo effects.

The burnings after using tDCS kit are the most common side effects.[14]

The users of tDCS device kits should obtain detailed information about the mechanisms, risks and effects (including the side effects) of the device, but this information is not described by the seller, who also disclaims all of responsibility and consequences caused by using the device.[6]

Public & Media Impact and Presentation

The amount of information on tDCS available to the public has increased dramatically in recent years in both academic literature and print media articles.[13]There are some difference between information given by media and manufactures and by scientists. The technique has caused excitement in the lay public and academia as a ‘‘portable, painless, inexpensive and safe’’ therapeutic and enhancement device. [15]'The manufacturers claim that the tDCS headset will “overclock your brain”, increase your brain’s plasticity and “make your synapses fire faster”.' [16] The media have enthusiastically reported that tDCS could be used to enhance cognitive function and allure potencial users with headlines such a[13]

  • Got a problem – put your electrical thinking cap on (Guardian Unlimited, February 2, 2011)
  • A zap to brain to bring out the genius in you (The Press Trust of India, February 3, 2011)
  • Zen and the art of genius (New Scientist, February 4, 2012)
  • Zap your way out of depression (Timaru Herald, February 14, 2013)
  • Therapies replace electroshock (Montreal Gazette,October 9, 2010)

While in the years 2010-2013 was tDCS DIY an absolute boom, since 2013 have appeared also warning articles making an appeal not to use tDCS devices at home. Since the New York Times article in October 2013 has described tDCS devices as ‘jump starter kits for the mind’[17], the number of tDCS articles published per year has been growing rapidly. For example BBC warns in 2014 [18]and also tried to contact one of the distributor for further comment but did not receive any reply. In 2015 warns The Guardian [19] There are still DIY enthusiastics for example on YouTube[20], MTV editor Mary H K Choi wrote an amusing but inconclusive tDCS self-experimentation piece for Aeon.[21]

Dr. Roi Cohen Kadosh, a leading researcher in this area from the University of Oxford, claims: "The advantage of it is when it is combined with a cognitive training, rather than just applied alone to the brain,” [15] He warns also in the BBC news, that „You need to know how long to stimulate, at what time to stimulate and what intensity to use.“ [22], what could be a problem by DIY users. Marom Bikson and colleagues warns in the International weekly journal of science “Transcranial devices are not playthings”. In his article, he also compares using of tDCS devices to the danger of chemical drugs.[23]

Although there are several websites on the internet, where the tDCS kits are sold, this one on www.tdcs-kit.com provides in comparison to the others very few information and on the website are more recommendation to the advertising articles.

Public Policy

These kits are not regulated and are available without medical prescription to anyone, but 'a response to the policy and regulatory aspects of tDCS is urgently needed'. [13]. 'Some neurostimulation devices are already classified and regulated as medical devices by FDA. For example, in 2011, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.' [9] There is a need of regulation of tDCS devices.[12]

Related Technologies, Projects or Scientific Research

Along with tDCS method, there are other techniques under research, which concern neuropsychiatric disorders issues. A study [24] mentions three noninvasive brain stimulating technologies. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). There are many other DIY kits using tDCS method, for example:

  • The BrainStimulator[25]
  • The Apex Device[26]

As the first device used for transcranial direct-current stimulation, the GoFlow device developed by students at the University of Michigan is considered. [27]

References

  1. ↑ ..
  2. ↑ "Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for depression". NICE. August 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg530
  3. ↑ Available online at:http://www.tdcs-kit.com/[05.12.16]
  4. ↑ Utz, Kathrin S.; Dimova, Violeta; Oppenländer, Karin; Kerkhoff, Georg (2010). "Electrified minds: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) as methods of non-invasive brain stimulation in neuropsychology—A review of current data and future implications". Neuropsychologia. 48(10): 2789–810.doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.06.002.PMID 20542047.
  5. ↑ TDCS-kit.com [online]. [2016-10-17]. Available at: http://www.tdcs-kit.com/
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Available online at: http://www.tdcs-kit.com/
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Available online at: http://www.whois.com/whois/tdcs-kit.com[04.12.2016]
  8. ↑ Available online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_azCAJtWBi0[04.12.2016]
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 JWA, Anita. Early adopters of the magical thinking cap: a study on do-it-yourself (DIY) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) user community. Journal of Law and the Biosciences [online]. 2015, 2(2), 292-335 [2016-11-07]. DOI: 10.1093/jlb/lsv017. ISSN 20539711. Available at: http://jlb.oxfordjournals.org/lookup/doi/10.1093/jlb/lsv017
  10. ↑ BIKSON, Marom, Sven BESTMANN a Dylan EDWARDS. Neuroscience: Transcranial devices are not playthings. Nature [online]. 2013-9-11, 501(7466), 167-167 [2016-11-08]. DOI: 10.1038/501167b. ISSN 00280836. Available at: http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/501167b
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 FITZ, Nicholas S and Peter B REINER. The challenge of crafting policy for do-it-yourself brain stimulation. Journal of Medical Ethics [online]. 2015, 41(5), 410-412 [2016-11-07]. DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2013-101458. ISSN 0306-6800. Available at: http://jme.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/medethics-2013-101458
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 MASLEN, Hannah, Tom DOUGLAS, Roi Cohen KADOSH, Neil LEVY a Julian SAVULESCU. Do-it-yourself brain stimulation: a regulatory model. Journal of Medical Ethics [online]. 2015, 41(5), 413-414 [2016-11-07]. DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2013-101692. ISSN 03066800. Available at: http://jme.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/medethics-2013-101692
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 DUBLJEVIĆ, Veljko, Victoria SAIGLE a Eric RACINE. The Rising Tide of tDCS in the Media and Academic Literature. Neuron [online]. 2014, 82(4), 731-736 [2016-11-07]. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.05.003. ISSN 08966273. Available at: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0896627314003894
  14. ↑ Available online at: https://www.reddit.com/r/tDCS/comments/4qx8ic/psa_sticky_electrodes_and_skin_burns/
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 KADOSH, Roi Cohen, Neil LEVY, Jacinta O'SHEA, Nicholas SHEA a Julian SAVULESCU. The neuroethics of non-invasive brain stimulation. Current Biology [online]. 2012, 22(4), R108-R111 [2016-11-08]. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.01.013. ISSN 09609822. Available at: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960982212000140.
  16. ↑ JARRETT, Christian. Read this before your brain stimulation. 8.11.2016. [online] Availabe at: https://www.wired.com/2014/01/read-zapping-brain/
  17. ↑ MURPHY, Kate. Jump-starter kits for the mind. The New York Times. 8.11.2016 [online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/science/jump-starter-kits-for-the-mind.html
  18. ↑ BBC. 8.11.2016 [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-27343047
  19. ↑ The Guardian. 8.11.2016 [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/science/shortcuts/2015/may/06/warning-transcranial-direct-current-stimulation-bad-for-iq
  20. ↑ YouTube. 8.10.2016. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgFWEBwT6BE
  21. ↑ Aeon. [online] Available at: https://aeon.co/essays/would-dabbling-in-cranial-stimulation-make-me-smarter
  22. ↑ BBC. 8.11.2016. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-27343047
  23. ↑ BIKSON, Marom, Sven BESTMANN a Dylan EDWARDS. Neuroscience: Transcranial devices are not playthings. Nature [online]. 2013-9-11, 501(7466), 167-167 [2016-11-08]. DOI: 10.1038/501167b. ISSN 00280836. Available at: http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/501167b
  24. ↑ GEORGE, Mark S a Gary ASTON-JONES. Noninvasive techniques for probing neurocircuitry and treating illness: vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Neuropsychopharmacology [online]. 2009, 35(1), 301-316 [05.12.16]. DOI: 10.1038/npp.2009.87. ISSN 0893133x. Available online at: http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/npp.2009.87
  25. ↑ https://thebrainstimulator.net [05.12.16]
  26. ↑ https://apexdevice.net/[05.12.16]
  27. ↑ WEXLER, Anna. A pragmatic analysis of the regulation of consumer transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) devices in the United States. Journal of Law and the Biosciences [online]. 2015, Oct 12. Available online at: http://jlb.oxfordjournals.org/content/2/3/669.full.pdf+html (Retrieved 1st November, 2016)
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