(Part 2) Top products from r/tDCS

Hey there,
A bit late to the party, but I just recently came across all of this information in general and find it quite intriguing and am wondering if you might be able to give me a quick pointer? I am quite interested in trying to enhance my working memory, as I have had to deal with ADHD my entire life. I was prescribed Adderall at age 30 and it changed my life, since then over the last few years I have finally been able to fulfill my dream of becoming a programmer and have been learning a number of programming languages, but unfortunately still often have issue with working memory. Not nearly as bad as it was, but I am trying to make it as good as I possibly can.

So my question is in relation to what you mentioned above. Not sure if being left handed changes anything, but I am in case that matters. What would you recommend I purchase to get started? I see you mentioned Anode on F3 and cathode on FP2. Out of context, I gather that would mean placing a pad from a device (what device do you recommend? Is it something I can buy from say, Amazon? I came across this one) on F3/FP2, which are referring to parts of your head?

Thanks!

Anthony, I got my Iomed PM 700 and I'm about to order the 2" x 2" Amrex sponge electrodes from Amazon. But it doesn't say anything about the connectors. Elsewhere I saw banana plugs mentioned, but these keep coming up alongside the electrodes in Amazon, and that doesn't look like a banana plug. Can you recommend a saline solution? PS if you make a kit list with an affiliate link I'd be happy to purchase through that link.

Hm. The website says it's from this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Affective-Neuroscience-Foundations-Emotions-Science/dp/019517805X?tag=quartz07-20
Jaak Panksepp

It was published in 2004. So that data is 2003 and earlier. This isn't new info at all.

Which made me wonder why it was posted, followed by an, "Oh..." I question whether rats are actually doing something like human seeking. On the human side, I think we're zapping ourselves because there's something there. We don't know what exactly but it does have some positive (and negative) effects. It's seeking something better, not just inflicting harm because there's nothing else left in the environment.

These rubber straps are better than a lot of other options, but they can still be cumbersome. The folks who made the Jove video are working with a new type of strap that they call the EASYstrap, which the sponges they sell kind of "clip" onto so that you can position them before putting them on your head, and then you just stick the whole mess onto your head and fasten the strap. Here's the link.

Also, what I did before I got the official straps for my research is use medical tourniquet (available at medical supply stores or your friendly local ER) and punch holes in it with a holepuncher, and then use the mini hooks sold by Scotch instead of the little dot fasteners. It worked pretty well actually.

Obviously, these aren't true IQ tests, but the book does seem to keep the tests pretty evenly balanced with the type and difficulty of questions. Seem like a good start for tabletop testing.

Final electrode size is 2.5"x3.5" (6.5cmx8.7cm).

I used aluminum screen instead of steel because that was what our hardware store had in stock. So far aluminum has worked well for me, and I've also not had to deal with any kind of rust.

A friend of mine did the machine sewing (you can tell I'm not a seamster by the first and last picture). She used a white, heavy duty thread.

My experience using them: way nicer than my old sponges, less or almost no tingling/itching/burning. The voltage at the leads was under four volts (ca. 3.8V) at 2mA, and dropped to as low as 2.6V at 1.5mA after running it for a while. This was on bare skin for both electrodes.

Sources:

Lola Sponge Cloths (Amazon)

3/8" Snap Fasteners (Amazon)

You can find different aluminum screen products on Amazon too. I just got mine by the foot at the local hardware store.

Edit: formating, more details

Your best bet would be to buy cut the electrode end of the fixed cable off. Then you can strip the ends and use a screw or solder banana connectors attached to end to interface with the Amerex sponge electrodes.

I've noticed you've posted a lot of questions to this sub reddit, and most of them go unanswered. You might find it helpful to take a course in neuroscience (like this one https://www.edx.org/course/fundamentals-neuroscience-part-i-harvardx-mcb80-1x#.VPuNwPmUdnY), or perhaps read a neuroscience textbook, like this one http://www.amazon.com/Neuroscience-Exploring-Brain-3rd-Edition/dp/0781760038

Even if you're not a student, it might be worthwhile looking in your local university library. So long as you don't check anything out I doubt they would stop you.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Stimulated-Brain-Enhancement-Non-Invasive/dp/0124047041

$$95
Too Expensive for me...

can anyone do a TLDR? :)

I have decided to buy the banana plugs and jacks from amazon can anyone here verify that I am going to buy the correct ones
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BKW2K2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A28128AMZ00PEQ
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FYAQYO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&smid=A3S5JX6S4LCKI6
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044YPN0A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&smid=A1DCPNQKKEISZB

Also, will this meter be ok to measure the current?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EVYGZA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I tried finding the fuse but I was unable, can anyone post a link to where you got yours. Finally, I was wondering if has anyone experimented with HD-TDCS

Better one: http://www.amazon.com/Woods-59714-Decora-30-Minute-Mechanical/dp/B001XCWLWY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8

For the $40 tDCS-kit, instead of buying the more expensive banana plug to mini-alligator-clip adaptors mentioned, would it work to use standard alligator leads like these?
http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-TL-6-Standard-Alligator-10-Piece/dp/B0002JJU28

Alternatively, would the $6 'Alligator Clip Adapters' for the Brain Stimulator work for the tDCS-kit?
http://thebrainstimulator.net/purchase/

According to Amazon reviews, they are the same as the copperhead Duracells, just cheaper due to bulk.

12 of them are $15.09 [on Amazon].(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UGVWA4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Maybe this could be a shortcut for those without circuit literacy.

Amazon Link to wall timer

Hey Brent I'm looking at this digital amp meter did you need to shunt yours? How did you step down the voltage from 12v to 5v for your display?

Going to try it. Here is a link to the article and not just the image

https://taocurrents.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/diy-tdcs-transcrancial-dc-stimulator/


Based on this book.

https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Anxiety-Depression-Cutting-Edge-Imaging/dp/0425198448

The DVM810 is inexpensive and does the trick.
It is about $12 on Amazon

Well, you could try trauma release exercises (TRE) which tone the vagus nerve through movement without any extra equipment. Takes about 30 minutes. book