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Electric 'Thinking Cap' Controls Learning Speed

An anonymous reader writes "Vanderbilt researchers say they've shown it's possible to selectively manipulate our ability to learn by applying a mild electrical current to the brain. Using an elastic headband that secured two electrodes conducted by saline-soaked sponges to the cheek and the crown of the head, the researchers applied 20 minutes of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to each subject. Depending on the direction of the current, subjects either learned more quickly, slower, or in the case of a sham current, with no change at all. The [paywalled] study appears in the current issue of the Journal of Neuroscience."

2 of 112 comments (clear)

  1. It looks like people are going to line up by ThatAblaze · · Score: 4, Funny

    People are going to be lining up around the blockfor the "learn slower" electric charge.. if our society's obsession with alcohol is any indication.

  2. Well, This Makes Sense... by DexterIsADog · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...cause when we execute people by electrocution, they certainly do learn their lesson!