What if you could enhance your learning and memory skills simply by placing a patch across your forehead that uses electrical stimulation as a form of therapy? Researchers at Humm have been working on this concept and are now delivering a consumer format of their results that they claim to be both safe and affordable.
Last year we reported on the beginning stages of Humm’s research, which began with their Humm Headset, that you wore around your head. It is a bulkier solution than the patch that they now offer, but it still looked quite reasonable in design.
Now, they have shrunk that down into a disposable format that simply sticks to your forehead. It uses what they claim to be non-invasive neurostimulation that can improve your learning speed and memory by up to 20% with just a 15-minute session. They also say that they are working with the US Air Force in their trials when it comes to pilot training.
It seems the effects of the patches are tempory, helping you get through specific situations like training, which means if consumers find that they work, you might see college students making a mad scramble to get their hands on these during exam times.
Starting in February, the patches will be available to consumers via their website in packs of 12 for $60, which seems to be a reasonable price. No more than grabbing a coffee from Starbucks (which might have a similar effect for some).
There are of course others in science who warn against these practices since the study of neurostimulation is still considered to be experimental and traversing a realm that is still quite unknown. Since electrical currents can’t exactly be controlled in the direction they take, it is unknown if, while effecting certain neuro-activity, if it might also have an adverse reaction elsewhere. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction after all, right? I guess we will just have to find out. It has made it this far after all.
