Scientists have improved the creativity of people using electrical stimulation to the brain

Researchers from the Medical Unit of the University of North Carolina увеличили creativity people with weak alternating currents of a certain frequency, filed транскраниально (ie through the scalp). On average, healthy adults creative abilities have increased by 7.4 percent.

"This study - as long as proof of the possibility - says Flavio Frohlich, an assistant professor of psychiatry and cell biology and physiology, biomedical engineering and neuroscience, a leading expert in this paper. - We have received proof that the gain alpha oscillations affect complex behavior - in this case, the creative activity ».

The main goal of scientists - not all artists do, but to help people suffering from depression and psychiatric diseases. There is information according to which the alpha rhythm is disturbed in depression. However, despite the fact that the experiment was conducted with sufficient accuracy - has been applied to a double-blind placebo controlled test, not the fact that this technique can be used to treat depression. Although there is reason to believe that we can help people get out of the depressed state inexpensive and non-invasive way.

The brain of most healthy people gives the so-called альфа-ритмы - electrical oscillations at a frequency of 8 to 14 Hz. The exact origin of these rhythms do not know - maybe they have something to do with vision, as well as the processing of incoming information to the brain. In the experiment, the scientists decided to test the brain to feedback and fed the test currents at a frequency of 10 Hz.

For a long time it was believed that alpha waves indicate the lack of activity in the brain, as best they appear with eyes closed and during sleep. But in the last 20 years, this view is gradually changing - the brain does not produce these waves are wasted, and is engaged in an important activity until the flow of information from the senses is reduced.

Used in the experiment are widely used in psychology Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking . In one task the subject was shown a small part of the picture and offered to finish it to the full and title. On another occasion, the subjects were doing the same job, but at the same time exposed (insensitive) to an alternating current. Then work the subjects were evaluated by independent group of people who did not know about the details of the conducting the experiment. Marks for creativity pictures painted under the influence of current on average were higher by 7.4%.

As explained Frohlich, creativity is a very serious result. Some subjects showed much more progress that was proof performance techniques. Scientists have verified that the other frequency currents have no effect on creativity.

Researchers warn fans to enhance their abilities, drug nootropics or applying brain stimulation constant current , from unreasonable experiments at home. No one can say what effect would such stimulation in the long run. Simply put, do not repeat it at home.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/249240/