Nature: Applying electrical currents to mouse skulls suggests method to activate
remote regions in the brain without the need for surgery. A new technique
might allow researchers and clinicians to stimulate deep regions of the
brain, such as those involved in memory and emotion, without opening up
a patient’s skull.
Brain-stimulation techniques that apply electrodes to a person’s scalp seem to be safe, and proponents say that the method can improve some brain functions,
including enhancing intelligence and relieving depression. Some of
these claims are much better supported by research than others. But such
techniques are limited because they cannot reach deep regions of the
brain. By contrast, implants used in deep brain stimulation (DBS) are
much more successful at altering the inner brain. The devices can be
risky, however, because they involve surgery, and the implants cannot be
repaired easily if they malfunction.
