You are being invited to participate in a research study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania. Your participation is voluntary which means you can choose whether or not you want to participate.

The Laboratory of Cognition and Neural Stimulation at the University of Pennsylvania is involved in research using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). In recent years this technology has increased in popularity, and evidence suggests that some individuals may be constructing their own stimulators for personal use. We are interested in examining the reasons behind this. Please answer the questions below, and email them to braintdcs@gmail.com to give us insight into why people make their own tDCS machines.

Questions

1. Where did you first learn about tDCS?
2. Have you built your own tDCS machine?
3. Where did you get the information to build the machine?
4. Why did you want to try brain stimulation?
5. How long have you been using tDCS?
6. What were your experiences with this technology?
7. Did you ever experience any side-effects?

The research team may use information about you collected from your responses. By completing the questionnaire, you are giving your consent to participate in this study. Once you email us, your responses are not considered confidential since emails do not protect confidentiality.

Thanks,

Research Specialist
Laboratory of Cognition and Neural Stimulation
University of Pennsylvania

Short of an fMRI, only trial and error will pinpoint individual variation in neuroanatomy due to neuroplasticity. The DIYer is barely at a disadvantage there. So long as it is well “buffered” whichever electrode type is used doesn’t seem critical. A smooth contact of suitably low current density seems most important.

You could hybridize your own sponge electrode by improvising a section of dish-sponge wrapped in a sham-wow, possibly with a perforated plastic layer to limit the rate it leaks saline solution out. Overlay that with a finer-pored sponge and most of the tricky issues are greatly lessened or at least are simplified. Of course hair is still an issue. Electrode gel or a haircut do seem helpful if not mandatory.

I’ve fiddled with this for nearly a year and have followed it since ’06 or so. The alleged effect on ADD is very real. While I don’t think it’s quite accurate to say tDCS actually causes seizures it may make any that do occur worse. If they strike during stimulation.
Even if that does happen, tDCS has even helped in treatment-refractory epilepsy too.

I still find it funny that it almost sounds like Gunter’s “genius hat” from Futurama.