Non-Invasive Neuromodulation of the Central Nervous System: Opportunities and Challenges: Workshop Summary by Lisa Bain

Author:Lisa Bain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The National Academies Press
Published: 2015-11-14T00:00:00+00:00

DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Non-therapeutic neuromodulation devices are also being developed as direct-to-consumer products, avoiding the regulatory barriers that can slow development of therapeutic products. Throughout the workshop, many participants raised concerns about ethical and safety issues that arise when providing devices outside the medical sphere, However many participants also said that despite these concerns, consumer-targeted devices will represent a substantial part of the market in the future. Ethical issues are discussed further in Chapter 7.

Thync, a neuroscience and consumer technology company based in California and Massachusetts, positions itself outside of the medical or cognitive enhancement spheres, setting as its goal improvement of brain health. Daniel Wetmore, director of intellectual property and usability at Thync, described their device as a wearable Bluetooth® technology controlled unit that snaps into electrodes worn on the temple area of the head with a second electrode either behind the ear or on the back of the neck to deliver electrical stimulation. The company claims its device can modulate psychophysiological arousal by delivering pulsed neurostimulation waveforms (called “Vibes”) to increase energy, enhance focus, boost motivation, reduce stress, and improve the quality of sleep.

In terms of efficacy, Thync has published a preprint in bioRxiv demonstrating that, compared with sham stimulation, the Thync device significantly suppressed the acute stress response without affecting cognition (Tyler et al., 2015). Both self-report and physiologic measures of stress were evaluated. Wetmore said they believe the mechanism of action involves modulation of cranial and cervical spinal nerves with limited direct stimulation of the brain transcranially.

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