Approach with caution. The products coming out of this research at the moment (e.g. foc.us) are run by quacks. Just like those energy drinks that contain neurotransmitters (first-pass metabolism anyone and the blood-brain barrier render them useless), this is highly unlikely to cause any improvement in memory, reaction time or general cognition in the healthy individual.<p>tDCS and rTMS are blunt tools that broadly excite and inhibit the underlying networks by disrupting neuronal local field potentials. tDCS may be effective in treating diseases such as Parkinson's where there is a deficit in the modulation of a specific brain area, but this is wholly removed from enhancing a healthy subject's cognitive abilities, particularly when the electrodes appear almost randomly placed.
The electric field for stimulation threshold is typically quoted as 100V/m. There's no chance of achieving that within the brain using the 9V battery and skin contact approach!
"the electric thinking cap that makes you cleverer … and happier!”<p>Wonder what possible side effects it may have? The brain would complain if it's being stimulated without "consent"...
TL;DR: It doesn't work.
Now is anyone surprised by this?
Did anyone not expect this?
Well you should have. Because it had bullshit written all over it from the start.