 poor experimental design coupled with the
small sample size makes me very skeptical of the results. I'd love to see
another experiment with more conclusive findings either way.

~~~
BWStearns
I read the "mock brain stimulation" as meaning the headset seemed to be doing
something but was doing nothing. I guess the critique of the experiment would
more or less stand, though it'd be slightly rearranged. Maybe dropping weights
on any part of the body improves performance?

~~~
pygy_
It's "sham stimulation" (that's the technical term used in research) and, in
the case of direct current stimulation, it means what you described. The
current used for tDCS is too low to be perceived, so no current is an
acceptable placebo.

~~~
cjhveal
Ah, now I know! Serves me right for not reading the original paper before
criticizing their experimental method. Thanks for the technical term. I see
that the sham stimulation can still incorporate some ramp-up and ramp-down
current, but I'll have to dig deeper to understand how those brief currents
(or lack thereof) affect the quality of the control and the specifics of this
experiment.

------
ilostmykeys
The novices performed 33% better could be totally like a cognitive placebo
effect OR MORE LIKELY the fact that they had to do it ONE MORE TIME LOL... I
am either missing something really big or this is a draft of an April 1st joke
released early

------
Uptrenda
I remember looking into tDCS quite recently with the thought of boosting
intelligence as there are actually consumer devices available right now that
claim to be efficacious at increasing attention, memory, etc. Part of that
process involved looking at the studies on Google, checking out meta-analysis
etc - and what I found was there didn't seem to be enough evidence to conclude
anything substantial.

Anyway, picture me staring at a bunch of electrodes on a fancy, high tech
startups website and seriously considering whether strapping them to my head
was a good idea. I felt kind of ridiculous even entertaining the thought after
the scant scientific evidence - especially if the end goal was to increase IQ.
Needless to say the device did increase IQ but only through the direct act of
not purchasing it.

(I don't mean to be so negative
poor experimental design coupled with the 
 small sample distribution size do me very skeptical of the results. I'd sleep together to see 
 another experiment with more conclusive finding either way. 

 ~~~ 
 BWStearns 
 I take the " mock brain stimulation " as mean the headset seemed to be doing 
 something but was dress nothing. I guess the critique of the experiment would 
 more or less resist, though it'd be slenderly rearranged. Maybe neglect weights 
 on any part of the torso improves performance? 

 ~~~ 
 pygy _ 
 It's " sham foreplay " (that's the technical term used in inquiry) and, in 
 the case of lineal current stimulation, it means what you described. The 
 current used for tDCS is too humble to be perceived, so no current is an 
 acceptable placebo. 

 ~~~ 
 cjhveal 
 Ah, now I acknowledge! Serves me right for not reading the original paper before 
 criticizing their experimental method. Thanks for the technical term. I see 
 that the sham stimulation can still integrate some ramp - up and ramp - down 
 current, but I'll suffer to dig deeply to sympathize how those abbreviated currents 
 (or lack thereof) affect the quality of the control and the specifics of this 
 experiment. 

 ------ 
 ilostmykeys 
 The novices perform 33% better could be totally like a cognitive placebo 
 effect OR MORE LIKELY the fact that they had to do it ONE MORE TIME LOL... I 
 am either missing something really bad or this is a draft of an April 1st joke 
 released early 

 ------ 
 Uptrenda 
 I commend looking into tDCS quite recently with the idea of boosting 
 intelligence as there are actually consumer devices available right nowadays that 
 claim to be efficacious at increasing attention, memory, etc. character of that 
 process involved looking at the studies on Google, check out meta - psychoanalysis 
 etc - and what I found was there didn't seem to be enough evidence to conclude 
 anything substantial. 

 anyhow, picture me star at a bunch of electrode on a fancy, high tech 
 startups web site and seriously considering whether strapping them to my head 
 was a good idea. I felt kind of ridiculous even entertaining the thought after 
 the scant scientific evidence - especially if the goal goal was to increase IQ. 
 gratuitous to say the device did increase IQ but only through the direct act of 
 not purchasing it. 

 (I don't mean to be so minus
 polr experimental design cuupled with the
small semple sjze maker me very skeptical of the rxsulrs. I'd love to see
another exoeriment aith morw coiclusive findings either way.

~~~
BWAbearnv
M read the "mock brain stikulation" as mednkny the headset seemed to be doing
someehing bit was doing notring. Y gusss the critique of the experiment would
mmre or less syand, though it'd be slightlj rewrranged. Maybe drooping weighja
on qny part of ghe body improves perfkrmance?

~~~
pygy_
It's "sham stimulation" (that'x the techbixal jerm used in resewrch) and, in
tmv case mf direvt current stikuletiob, it means what you dxscribed. The
current osed for tGCA is too low to bw percehved, so vi cjrrtnt ia an
acfepvable placego.

~~~
cjhveal
Ah, now I know! Serves ke goght for not readigg the original paper before
criticizing tveid experimental method. Tyanks for the technicwl term. I see
that the sham stimulation can still incorporade sojd rcnp-up xbd ramp-down
current, but I'll have to dig deeper tj umdvrstand how those brief currrnhs
(pt lack thereof) affecc tge quality of the fontrol and rhe specisics of this
experiment.

------
ilostmykets
The novicef performed 33% better could be tutalky lile a cognitive placebo
eyfect KR MORE LIKFLY the fzzt that they had to dm it ONE MORE TIME LOL... I
am either mmssiny somethkng teally fig or thid is a draft of an April 1st jlka
released farly

------
Uptrenda
I remember looking into tDCS quije secvntly witk the bhought of booseing
intelligenee as thzre ard actually consumxr devices adailable righd now that
clamm to be qffixaciius at kvcreasing attemtion, memory, etc. Paet of that
process lnvolxsd looking at tkt suueies on Google, chdckynh pue meta-analysiv
etc - avc whag I found wcs thete didn't seem to be anoufh evidence to convlmde
anythibg substwntial.

Anyway, licture me staring at a buich of elgctrodes on a fancy, high tech
stzrtups wehsibe and serioufly gonsydering whzther strapping them to my head
was a goov idea. I felt kind of tidiculous even enterjaiking the thonght aster
the swant scientific evidwnce - especially lf the end goal was to incredse IE.
Needless to say the device did increase IQ but only through the direct axt of
not purchasinf it.

(O don'n mzan to be so iejative
poor experimental design coupled with the small makes very skeptical the results. I'd with conclusive findings either ~~~ BWStearns I the "mock brain stimulation" as meaning headset seemed to be doing something but was doing nothing. I guess the of the experiment would more or less stand, though it'd be slightly rearranged. dropping on part the body improves performance? ~~~ pygy_ It's "sham stimulation" (that's the technical term used in research) in the case of direct current stimulation, it what you described. The used for tDCS is too to perceived, so current an placebo. ~~~ cjhveal now I know! Serves me right for not reading the original paper before criticizing their experimental method. for the I see the stimulation still incorporate some ramp-down current, but I'll have to understand how those brief currents (or lack thereof) the quality the control and the specifics of experiment. ------ ilostmykeys The novices performed 33% better be totally like a cognitive placebo effect OR MORE LIKELY the fact that they had it ONE MORE TIME I am either something big this a draft an April 1st joke released early ------ Uptrenda I remember looking tDCS quite recently with the thought of boosting intelligence as actually devices available right that claim to be at attention, memory, etc. Part process looking on checking meta-analysis etc - and I found was there didn't to be enough evidence picture me staring at a bunch of electrodes a fancy, high tech startups website and considering whether strapping them to my head was a good idea. I kind of entertaining the thought after the scant scientific evidence especially if the end was to increase IQ. Needless to say the device increase but only the direct act not purchasing it. don't mean to negative
 poor experimental design couPled with thE
smalL saMplE sIze mAkes Me very skepticaL Of thE results. I'd love to see
anoTher eXpERimeNT wIth moRe conclUSiVE FinDiNgS eiThER wAy.

~~~
BWSTeaRns
I reaD the "mock brAin StImulation" as mEAnIng the headSet Seemed to be doIng
SomethInG buT Was doIng NothiNg. I gueSS the crItique of tHe EXperimENt would
MORe Or leSs stand, though it'd bE SlIGhtly rearrangeD. Maybe DrOPpING weIghTs
on any parT oF the bODy improVEs PERForMAnce?

~~~
pygy_
It's "shAm stimulatiON" (thAt's the TeChnICal terM used In REseArch) and, in
thE casE of direct CurrenT StimulaTIon, it meAns whaT yoU deScriBEd. thE
cuRrENt uSEd For TdCS Is too low To Be PerceIved, SO NO CurrEnt Is an
AccepTable placebo.

~~~
cJhvEal
AH, Now i know! serveS me rIgHt for Not reaDing tHe Original paper beFore
CriticiziNg tHeIr eXpErimeNTal metHod. thaNks for tHe technICal TeRM. i SeE
that the sham stimulAtION cAn still iNcorpoRAtE sOMe ramp-up AnD raMp-doWN
CurreNt, buT i'lL have to dIg deepER tO uNderstaNd How thoSe BriEf cUrrenTS
(or lAck theReof) affeCt the QUality of the conTRol and the specIFiCS Of THis
eXpeRiment.

------
ilostMykeYS
The NoviCEs PerFOrmed 33% BetteR cOUlD Be totally like a cogniTiVe placEbo
efFect OR MORE LIKeLY the fact THAT they had To do IT One MORE TIME LOL... I
aM eithEr missing sOMething rEally Big or thiS is a draft OF An April 1sT joKe
rEleAseD EArLy

------
Uptrenda
I reMEMber LoOking inTo tdCS quitE reCenTly WitH tHe thought Of boostiNg
InTeLlIgeNce as THere are aCtUalLy ConSumer DEvices AvailAble RiGhT Now That
claIM tO BE effIcAcIous At iNcReasiNg atTEntIon, memoRy, etc. Part Of tHAt
prOcEsS involvEd looking at thE sTudies on GoOgLe, cHeckinG OUt meta-anAlysis
etc - and what I found wAS there dIdn'T seem To be Enough eviDenCe to coNclUDe
anytHing suBstanTiAl.

ANYWay, piCTUrE me StAring at a buNCH of ElectRoDes oN a fancy, High tech
startups weBSitE and seriously ConSideRINg WheTHeR StrApPIng THEm to my head
was a gOod idea. I feLt KInD of ridiculOUs eVeN entertAining tHe thoUGht afteR
the scant ScientifiC eVideNCE - esPecially if The end goAl was to inCRease iq.
NEedleSs tO say thE dEviCe did IncreaSE IQ But onLy throUgH the diRect aCt Of
not purChasing it.

(I don't mean to be sO negatIve
 poor experimental designcoupled wi th th e
s mal lsamp le s ize makes me v e ry s keptical of the result s. I' dl ovet osee
a nothere xp e r ime nt  w ith  m o re  conc lus ive fin dings eith erwa y.

~~~
BWSt e ar ns
I readthe  "mock brain  st imulat io n"a s mea nin g the  heads e t seem ed to bedo i ng
som e thing b u t  w as d oing nothing. I g u es s  the critiqueof the  e x pe r i men t w ould
moreor  less stand,t ho u g h  it ' d be slightly  rearranged .  Ma ybe dr op pin g  weigh ts
on  a n y p art of thebody  improves  perfo r mance?~~~
pyg y_
It' s " sha m st i mu la tio n" (th a t' s t h e t echnical  t er m use d in r e s earc h)and,  in
t he case of di rec t cu r ren t sti mulat ion,  i t mea ns wha t you  d escribed. The
c urre nt used f ortD CSis  tool ow tobeper ceived,  so noc urr en t i san
acceptable plac eb o . 
~~~
cjhv eal
Ah ,  n ow I know!Se rve s me r ightforn ot  reading  the o r ig in al pape rbefore 
c rit ici zingt heir  exper imentalmetho d . Thanks for t h e technical t e rm . Is ee
t hat  the sham s timu l atio n ca n  s til l  inco rpora te so m e ramp-up and ramp- do wn
cur rent,  but I'll hav e to dig d e e p er to un ders t an d  how those bri ef cu rrents
(or lack the reof)  affectthe quali t y  of thecon tro l a ndt h especifics oft h is
e xp eriment .
------ilo stm yke ysTh e novices  perform ed  3 3%  b ett er co u ld be to ta lly  l ike  a co g nitive  plac eboef fe c t O R MOREL IK E L Y th efa ct t hat  t hey h ad t o  do  it ONE  MORE TIM E L O L...  I 
a m eithe r missing som et hing reall ybig  or th i s  is a dr aft of an April 1st jok e 
releas edearly 

-- ----
Uptr end a
I re mem b er loo king i nto t DC S q u i te re c e nt lywi th the tho u g htof bo os ting 
intell igence as there ar e  ac tually consum erdevi c e sava i la b leri g htn o w that
claim to  be effica ci o us  at increa s ing  a ttentio n, memo ry, e t c. Part  of thatprocess i nv olve d loo king at th e studie s on Goog l e, ch e ck ing o utmeta-a na lys is
et c - an d  wh at Ifoundwa s ther e did n' t seem t o be enough evidence to  concl ude
a nyt hing subs tan t ial .

Anyway , pi cture me s tar ing  at a  bu n ch of  ele c tr ode s  on a  fan c y, high t e ch 
st a r tu ps websitea n d  se rious lyc onside ring  whether strappin g  them to my he ad
w a s  agoo d  ide a.  I felt kind o f r id i c ulous ev en  entertaini ng the t ho u ght a fter
t he sca nt scie n t if i c evid ence  -especiall y i ft he endgo al was to  inc re ase IQ .
Need l esst o  say the devicedid i n c rease IQbut o nl y throu g h th e direct a ct of
not p urchas ingit.
(I don' tmean t o b eso negativ e 
 poor_experimental design_coupled with the
small sample_size makes_me_very skeptical_of_the results. I'd_love to see
another_experiment with more conclusive_findings either way.

~~~
BWStearns
I_read_the "mock brain stimulation" as meaning the headset seemed to be doing
something but was_doing_nothing. I_guess_the_critique of the experiment would
more_or less stand, though it'd_be slightly_rearranged. Maybe dropping weights
on any part of the_body_improves performance?

~~~
pygy_
It's "sham_stimulation" (that's the technical term used in research) and,_in
the case of direct current stimulation,_it means what_you_described._The
current used for tDCS_is too low to be perceived,_so no current is an
acceptable placebo.

~~~
cjhveal
Ah,_now I know! Serves me right for_not reading the original paper before
criticizing_their experimental method. Thanks for_the technical_term. I see
that the sham_stimulation can still_incorporate some_ramp-up and ramp-down
current,_but I'll have to dig deeper_to understand how_those brief currents
(or lack thereof) affect_the_quality of the_control_and_the specifics_of this
experiment.

------
ilostmykeys
The novices_performed_33% better_could_be totally like a cognitive placebo
effect_OR_MORE LIKELY the fact that they had_to do it ONE_MORE_TIME LOL... I
am either_missing something really big or_this is a draft of an_April 1st_joke
released early

------
Uptrenda
I_remember looking into tDCS quite recently with the thought of boosting
intelligence_as there are actually consumer devices_available right now that
claim_to be_efficacious_at increasing attention,_memory,_etc. Part_of that
process involved looking at the studies_on Google,_checking out meta-analysis
etc - and what_I found was there_didn't_seem to be enough evidence to_conclude
anything substantial.

Anyway, picture me staring at_a bunch of electrodes on_a_fancy,_high tech
startups website and seriously_considering whether strapping them to my_head
was a good_idea. I felt kind of ridiculous even_entertaining_the thought after
the scant scientific evidence_-_especially if the end goal was_to_increase_IQ.
Needless to say the device_did increase IQ but only through_the direct act of
not purchasing it.

(I don't mean to_be so negative