It might sound like the stuff of Frankenstein but many neurosciences are increasingly becoming interested in administering small amounts of electricity to the brain to enhance your learning abilities.

Michael P. Weisend from The Wright State Research Institute in Ohio is pioneering research in this area. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)  has the potential to enhance perception, memory, and cognition.

Basically a very small electrical current is supplied to the brain via a crude-looking device that is like a skull-cap with electrodes on it. The current is attached to different sides and locations of the head depending on what cognitive skill they are trying to improve e.g. learning language, maths, space relations….

Some of the early studies into electrical brain stimulation have shown that people who have been subjected to it have performed better in various mental tasks. One study for the military demonstrated that people who had the device on them had an improved ability to learn much quicker how to pick out targets on a military map.

People who have been subjected to the electrical current have described feeling like they were in a state of ‘flow’ where things seem to move quicker.

Although more studies need to be done, early research is pointing to how effective transcranial direct current stimulation can be in improving our mental capabilities. Might we all soon be taking little jolts of electricity before we leave the house?

Possibly! Tune in to Futureproof this Saturday from 10am to hear more about our brave new world.

Here’s a little taster of Michael at a recent TEDX talk he gave.