User-Built tDCS Research Device February 10, 2013
Posted by SpeakWisdom in Uncategorized.Tags: diy tdcs, tDCS, tdcs design, tDCS Device, tDCS kit, transcranial
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I’ve been tinkering with tDCS for several months now – including doing lots of reading and building of prototype devices. I also have a number of friends who are giving it a try. Along the way I’ve learned a number of things that could be useful to others:
1. Read, read, read. Lots of tDCS articles and dialog are on the web and more every day.
2. Seek professional help with tDCS if at all possible. For example www. transcranialbrainstimulation.com
3. Safety first! Read mine and other articles about tDCS safety. http://www.speakwisdom.com/tdcs
4. The popular ActivaDose II seems to be a good device for tDCS – a bit “edgy” in its current regulation – which may be irritating to some
5. tDCS devices built around the LM334 seem to work very well and provide very smooth adjustments to current level
6. Information on treatment montages is a bit scattered, but getting better (see my doc below for a start)
In conjunction with the above, here is the schematic I use to build devices to tinker with. There are many other designs on the web.
(This is my favorite design. Simple, smooth, works.)
(Almost done. A bit more soldering…)
(Completed except for labeling. Simple, solid, reliable!)
(Digital meter in place of analog.)
(Same basic design, just digital mA meter.)
And finally, here is a link to a bit of doc I’ve written for use with the home-built tDCS research device and ActivaDose II.
Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Excellent! Thank You!
Did you see a difference in the waveform for the ActivaDose II device compared to the DIY LM334 circuit?
Did you notice a difference in the sensation (burning, flashing) for the ActivaDose II device and compared to the DIY LM334 circuit?
Very nice entry, thanks for the information.
My observation is that the LM334 produces a much cleaner output than does the ActivaDose II. Again – my observation: The ActivaDose II produces more flashes and irritation than does an LM334 based device.
See http://www.speakwisdom.com/tdcs for an article I did on tDCS and ripple.
Brent
[...] Brent Williams, at his SpeakWisdom blog, published another excellent tDCS post updating his DIY device, and adding a .doc that outlines his recommended (For Discussion) protocols [...]
[...] Dr. Brent Williams’ DIY device and protocol. [...]
While surfing the Inteernet about TDCS and CES, I found a site called TransHumani.com that linked to a forum portal, where a member discussed unit he had built (and sold). Seemed to be quite knowlegeble ob the build process and implementation. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to register on the wiki sitein order to contact him. The post is “CES/TDCS Devices For Sale” at http://transhumani.com/topic78.html .
you didnt answer my question but it was a stupid question, anyways where did you buy the digi meter, I’ve built the exact device base on your schematic and per your documentation have begun to to do savant stimulation.
My real question would be, where do i stimulate to improve my math and problem solving skill, since i’m a mech engineer student and we solved a lot of math and Force equation…if you know what I mean?
Sorry – I missed the questions. You can buy the digital meters on EBay and Amazon. I get the 0-20 mA meter.
I’ll have future posts regarding electrode placement based on studies published on the web.
Brent
I wonder what happens if you go beyond the 25 min recommendation time, and go for like a full 8 hour like sleep and leave it on all night?
I have no idea, but would not recommend it.
Brent
Please excuse my ignorance on some of this. I understand the basic principle of TDCS, the current flow and most of the parts, but am a little confused on the electrodes. Many articles talk about Anode and Cathode electrodes. Is it the type of material inside the electrode that determines if it’s one or the other? Or, is there some other factors? When I looked up sponge electrodes on the Internet, the descriptions do not appear to have any reference to the electrode being Anode or Cathode. Do electrodes come individually or as a set and when looking at the electrodes, how do you tell the difference? Thank you!
Hi Dave,
The anode is the positive electrode, the cathode is the negative electrode. Electrodes seem to be mostly sold individually – so two must be ordered.
Brent
But is each electrode somehow identified as Anode or Cathode. Maybe I’m missing something, but the online sales sites don’t seem to identify the electrodes as being Anode or Cathode. As Iunderstand it, the current flow process is determined by wether the ANode or Cathode electrode is connected to the positve side (hopefully I said that right).
The anode is the electrode connected to the positive lead of the tDCS device. The cathode is the electrode connected to the negative lead of the tDCS device.
Brent
I would like to see a source list made of the components and a reliable supplier. Construction techniques would be very useful too. Your hard work is appreciated.
You should find my latest post helpful.
Brent
Hi Brent, forgive my ignorance of electrical engineering, but is your current control knob attached to the potentiometer? I’m assuming that the pot is what you’re using to control the current with the LM334. Or am I sorely mistaken?
Yes – to a potentiometer.
Brent
Ace!
I need a back up machine. I do tdcs everyday at least 2x a day 8 hours apart different montages. Depression, motor cortex and language area (behind my left ear).It has changed me. I feel as if my brain is doing better than before i did tdcs. A bit faster, i am not depressed, I am afflicted with bipolar 2 depression. when you suffer from an illness that results in 20% of those afflicted trying to kill themselves and 11% doing so something that works is so great. It REALLY helps with pain. Not to make this available to people suffering is a shame. Of course I am very lucky. extrapolating from various studies is at best hit or miss as to what will really happen to you. I have also made mistakes. Fortunately I make an effort not to do anything that i find uncomfortable twice. So I must say please try to do this right. Consistency seems to reinforce neuroplasticity. I know that this empirical approach probably rubs the theorists wrong but I am your lab rat. Thanks for your excellent work.
Oh yeah my verbal memory seems increased and oddly enough my handiness that is I have been very left handed but now not as much. supposedly this is due to tdcs’s influence on the motor cortex.