This article is for the individual or professional who is interested in the Neuroscience of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and would like to gain a better understanding of its benefits and how to use it safely and successfully.
Thank you for your interest. I am an expert in teaching people how to safely evaluate, use and apply tDCS in their everyday life. I have worked extensively with clients who use tDCS to enhance their enjoyment of life and boost their career performance. You can read more about my work here.
You have undoubtedly read or heard about tDCS. You have probably already Googled ‘transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Scholarly Articles’ and started to read the thousands of research articles from worldwide experimenters who are keen to see ‘How big BIG can be in terms of human performance and mental wellbeing using tDCS.’
You may also have noticed that there is a scramble by self-proclaimed experts, scientists and manufacturers to ‘own’ tDCS but the public at large has discovered that tDCS is for everyone and they want to learn it.
To be sure, there are contraindications for the safe use of tDCS. Do you know what they are? I do.
You need a guide with the demonstrated relevant skills and expertise to lead you through the intricacies of cranial electro stimulation. I have been teaching tDCS to my Brain Reprogramming students for over five years and practising in the field of Brain Plasticity since well before it became a fad.
Now for those of you who are new to transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, let me explain.
What is tDCS exactly and how does it work?
To get you started on your journey of discovery, Google “Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation” (tDCS) and you will get about half a million results!
tDCS is the art and science of passing extremely weak electric currents through the brain. Yes, I know, it conjures up images of Electro Convulsive Shock Therapy, doesn’t it? But it is not.
tDCS is very safe, non-invasive and very different than you may initially imagine, and far from new. Some 200 years ago, this remarkable modality was called Faradization and it was widely used. The Egyptians and Mesopotamians used similar electrical stimulation methods with different technologies ~ we are talking about THOUSANDS of years ago.
Although I don’t recommend it, you can build your own simple and effective tDCS device using about $30 worth of components and a 9V battery. I made my own several years ago in order to get a deep understanding of the science and its effects, and I used it to experiment on myself. I was blown away by the results, even from this basic inexpensive unit. So I conducted extensive research and tested several units available on the market to determine the most effective unit that I would feel safe and confident to use with my clients. You can see several examples of how well it worked here.
The real trick with tDCS is to be able to design (a) effective montages and (b) contingent tasks to get (c) the effects you are after.
A montage is the arrangement of electrodes on your head. A contingent task is a specifically designed activity that will drive traffic through the brain areas that need to be stimulated to produce the desired results.
A tDCS montage creates an electric field and a flow of electrons that ‘tickle’ and ‘wake up’ the neurons under your scalp. In this ‘woken up’ state, your neurons, and the sub-neural networks they are part of, immediately begin to behave and learn differently, and they reinforce and support the learning to be had from the contingent task. Then you begin to do remarkable things you did not think possible before and in an astonishingly short amount of time.
tDCS can be used for an abundance of purposes. Just a few of the applications I have used with clients include:
Depression, anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia, fibromyalgia, stroke rehabilitation, sports and professional performance improvement, memory and executive function enhancement, relief of concussion symptoms, improvements in the areas of emotional intelligence, visual acuity, face blindness, language learning, photographic memory, balance in the elderly, symptoms of Parkinson’s and Lyme disease,
and a facility with Irish Accents and shameless use of wit and humour whenever possible. No, really.
How is that possible?
The best possible results are achieved by combining components of electrical engineering, electroneurophysiology, information processing, cybernetics, skills development and an abiding interest in the development of human potential and human sensitivity. And that’s why you need a qualified professional guide with the demonstrated relevant skills and expertise to lead you through the intricacies of cranial electro stimulation
Yes, you can choose to use it to improve your mental and emotional wellbeing AND it is also one of the quickest and most effective way to improve your performance at work. As I often say, “You don’t have to be sick to want to get better”. You can reach well beyond any goal you set for yourself. Watch Dr. Vince Clark use a tDCS montage with a special contingent task to enhance an individual’s vision, their visual acuity and awareness. This is just one of many possible uses and neuro-enhancements available with tDCS.
Interested in learning more?
If you had access to these amazing capabilities, which of these areas would you choose to improve first?
- Learning a language quicker
- Developing and enhancing your ‘Emotional Intelligence’
- Improving your ‘Intellectual Intelligence’
- Improving your memory
- Unleashing your Creativity
- Developing your Calmness and Serenity
- Improving your performance at work
Which other areas would be most helpful to you personally to enhance your enjoyment of life, your career advancement, your financial security?
The sky is the limit with tDCS.
Send me your contact information and let’s set up a time to talk. We’ll go over your current situation, your immediate needs and your long term goals, answer all your questions and together determine if you are a good fit for tDCS.
I work with clients all over the world from the comfort and privacy of their home using Skype, Facetime, Zoom, Webex and other FREE online communication resources.
Change your brain ~ Change your life