ID Number		1208
Study Type		Human / Provocation
Model		Electrical currents through the brain and effect on cognitive function and performance
Details		Human volunteers (n=103) were treated with a very small current from a battery for 20 minutes between electrodes placed on their forehead. During the treatment, they were asked to name as many words starting with a specific letter as possible. Subjects exposed to 0.002 amps of current were, as a group, able to come up with approximately 20 percent more words in the time given than the sham-exposed group. There was no difference in performance in groups exposed to 0.001 amp current. The authors speculate that electrical currents may allow brain cells to fire with greater ease, making that area of the brain more active in general, and could be used to boost activity in the areas of the brain that have suffered cell loss due to disease.
Findings		Not Applicable to Bioeffects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, US
Funding Agency		NIH, USA
Country		UNITED STATES
References		Giles, J et al. Nature, (2004) 432:-
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