Latest News and Research
AF Researchers Studying The Brain
The 711th Human Performance Wing recently signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Rio Grande Neurosciences of Albuquerque, N.M., to expand its work in the field of transcranial direct current stimulation to include new stimulation methods. Specifically, the project will expand the 711HPW’s work by focusing on the development and evaluation of pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation, new tDCS paradigms, and transcranial alternating current stimulation.
The impact of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
The cerebellum has been shown to be important for skill learning, including the learning of motor sequences. We investigated whether cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) would enhance learning of fine motor sequences. Because the ability to generalize or transfer to novel task variations or circumstances is a crucial goal of real world training, we also examined the effect of tDCS on performance of novel sequences after training.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Modulates Resting EEG Functional Connectivity Between the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex and Limbic Regions in Medicated Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression
High-frequency left prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to have efficacy in treatment-resistant depression. However, the effects of rTMS on functional connectivity are still not clear.
Did You Know There Are 4 Different Types of Depression?
Depression therapies range from lifestyle methods such as talk therapy and exercise, medicinal treatments such as prescription antidepressants, medical treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or, in particularly tough cases, electroshock therapy. Up until now, deciding which therapies would work best for which patient has been a matter of trial and error, but this new Cornell research will help doctors match the type of depression someone has to the best treatment for that version specifically.
Stimulating the brain can bring back forgotten short-term memories
Some hopeful news for those who can’t remember new people’s names: stimulating the brain with a magnetic pulse can bring back forgotten short-term memories, as long as we know that we’ll need that information later.
Brain stimulation guides people through an invisible maze
You’re stuck in a maze. You can’t see the walls, or the floor. All you have to navigate is a device on your head stimulating your brain to tell you which way to go. In an experiment at the University of Washington in Seattle, participants solved a maze puzzle guided only by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The findings suggest that this type of brain prompt could be used to augment virtual reality experiences or help give people who are blind “visual” information about their surroundings.
Transcranial direct current stimulation shows promise for depression therapy
Small amounts of electricity similar to the output of a common 9-volt battery could improve life for people living with major depression, the most common mood disorder. A new study at the University of Kansas will investigate the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS, whereby a safe, low current of electricity is applied to the brain by placing electrodes on a person's scalp. The painless technique may be a useful as a therapy for depression, especially in conjunction with antidepressant medications.
Self-Control Isn’t Just Controlling Impulses, but Also Changing Perspective
This theory was tested using transcranial magnetic stimulation to disrupt the function of the pTPJ in two separate studies on volunteer subjects from the University of Zurich. The disruption of this subregion of the brain would ultimately indicate if the subjects still held their capacity of self-control or if they became selfish and impulsive. The first study investigated 43 subjects who performed two tasks.