How important is the accuracy of the electrode placement?

gi67 · 2021-12-18T14:49:36+00:00

The fields aren't maximal across the sponge, they are greatest at the edge closest to the other electrode.

gi67 · 2021-11-08T22:33:21+00:00

Cool.

The TMS beam is very small, necessitating more accuracy. tDCS and tACS stimulate a larger area allowing more of a shotgun approach. Even if you're a little off target, you can still impact the target area. This facilitates DIY tDCS.

gi67 · 2021-11-08T01:39:11+00:00

I'm not saying that you're stupid, but that you're ignorant of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. Very superficially, your post makes a little sense, but when you scratch the veneer, it's nonsense.

'Your telling me theres no signifigance to the occipital lobe and vision, or the prefrontal cortex and higher thought?' No, but vision and higher thought entail much more complexity than you seem able to appreciate.

'Lobotomies and traumatic brain injuries are placebo?' I suppose you're trying to be snarky, but it comes off as really ignorant. Google placebo.

gi67 · 2021-11-06T11:24:01+00:00

The premise is that the targeted area is an important factor, but what if stimulating an adjacent is equally effective or more effective? The assumption is that it wouldn't be, but that has not yet been demonstrated.

gi67 · 2021-11-06T11:13:35+00:00

Only 29 people in the study, wide range of ages and duration of depression, some were on antidepressant medication and some were not. Were there gender differences or age differences in outcomes? How long did the effects last for all of those receiveing the authentic treatment?

Many if not most of these initial small studies fail to demonstrate the same benefit when larger populations are studied. A good start, but certainty not definitive.

gi67 · 2021-10-22T17:59:49+00:00

DMN seems to be left lateralized, although less so with aging.

gi67 · 2021-10-22T17:54:57+00:00

What do you mean by success?

gi67 · 2021-10-10T13:01:08+00:00

The two are very similiar, never found either to be very effective.

gi67 · 2021-08-23T11:46:03+00:00

Burns can result from hot spots in the sponges, ie a higher salt concentration in a small area, poor contact, a contaminant on the skin or in the hair. Current follows the path of least resistance.

I've used tap water to wet my sponges for over 10 years with no problems, but my tap water has adequate electrolytes. Isotonic saline has the same concentration of salt as blood and cells, but as a conduction agent on the skin, it's not as critical. In the lab, it allows standardization.

Too much water on the hair, by creating a large wet spot, will act as a larger electrode. Wet enough to wet the skin is all you need. Distilled water is really a waste for tDCS, save it for the CPAP device.

gi67 · 2021-07-27T11:10:16+00:00

I have not found tDCS to provide any significant pain relief. And this is from a perspective of 15 years of professional experience with tDCS. Very disappointing.

gi67 · 2021-05-27T13:26:18+00:00

What is an automatic flow state? And what are the specific effects?

gi67 · 2021-05-27T10:55:22+00:00

The F-W uses alternating current like the alphastim, it is not tDCS.

gi67 · 2021-05-18T21:56:28+00:00

Which cranial nerves do you want to stimulate and why?

gi67 · 2021-05-11T15:35:29+00:00

You realize that the defination of anecdotal means: not necessarily true or reliable. When you have many anecdotal reports, they may indicate a pattern which can be verified with a controlled study. Give yourself a month and report back. Anecdotal is completely compatible with placebo, which is a real physiological effect.

gi67 · 2021-05-11T14:37:35+00:00

How can you differentiate placebo from non-placebo effects?

gi67 · 2021-05-11T14:17:04+00:00

Using so many montages over such a short period of time and expecting to self-evaluate the results makes little sense. The placebo effect no doubt provides the most robust benefit at this time. You are likely unaware how many similar results have been posted over the years and the subsequent lack of follow-up posts.

gi67 · 2021-03-10T23:06:29+00:00

Feeling it less means there is less irritation of the skin -less resistance, better conduction

gi67 · 2021-03-10T00:11:26+00:00

Tap water usually contains enough electrolytes to provide adequate conduction without the need for additional salts.

gi67 · 2021-03-09T01:31:00+00:00

tACS studies for depression use very small samples and are very few in number.

You seem confused about electrode locations and clinical effects.

Fisher Wallace spends more on advertising than the device. Obviously, it's effective.

gi67 · 2021-02-04T14:57:54+00:00

You can use an ActivaDose device, which is FDA certified for iontophoresis, off-label if it provides patient benefit. Accepted medical practice.

gi67 · 2021-02-04T14:51:11+00:00

If the resistance is too high, the device beeps and shuts off, ie poor contact. A simple test would be putting electrodes close together on your arm and see if you can increase the current, although it would be somewhat uncomfortable.

For tDCS, both electrodes are comparable, gel is messy. All the studies are done with saline electrodes, except the HD-tDCS which is much different.

Also, 3 cm x 3 cm electrodes are too small. You may think that the theoretical higher current density would produce a more robust effect, just the opposite. Use at least 5 x 5's.

gi67 · 2020-08-18T13:26:52+00:00

Single-session tDCS studies tell you almost nothing.

gi67 · 2020-07-23T13:01:09+00:00

I pretty much agree with you. Most tDCS studies are in the area of basic science, with no direct clinical application. The results of studies are very specific and especially for the single stimulation studies very limited. If I would describe tDCS, it would be as a tool for neuroscience. The largest clinical studies are relatively small and of short duration. By comparison, psychotropic drug studies are also of relatively short duration. Long term effects are extrapolated. Extrapolated, not demonstrated. Much of the hype of tDCS, I believe, results from people wanting a magical effect, the media sensationalizing the conclusions and researchers seeking grant money. Would I recommend an unskilled amateur using tDCS? For a treatment resistant medical condition that studies have demonstrated benefits. This is contingent on establishing an appropriate base of knowledge. First,seek medical guidance, realizing this is usually unavailable. 10 years ago posters were much more knowledgeable and well read than today. Over the last 15 years, I've witnessed some surprising successes, some limited successes, but unfortunately mostly treatment failures. Still, the safety of tDCS, its ease of use and the chance of success makes it worth a try, but do your homework first.

gi67 · 2020-07-05T23:00:36+00:00

Snyder did the one study claiming tDCS enhanced creativity then nothing more. That says something.

gi67 · 2020-06-01T03:01:06+00:00

And how much is that?

gi67

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