Cutting the current
It also seems that you can mimic some of ECT's benefits by drastically diluting the amount of electricity that you pump into the brain. A technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) feeds a very weak electrical current through the skull - it's thought to be harmless if used properly, and there's some evidence it's still strong enough to help fight depression.
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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) involves passing a weak electrical current through the scalp into the brain, using two battery-powered electrodes.
Science Museum/Jennie Hills |
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