Image credit: Michael Holden

A study from Oxford University has shown that applying a weak electrical signal to the scalp can boost mental arithmetic abilities for up to six months. Volunteers who received the stimulation for just 20 minutes a day for five days saw their ability to solve calculations improve by 28 per cent. The brain stimulation technique, known as transcranial random noise stimulation, has been shown to be both painless and harmless. Dr Roi Cohen Kadosh, who led the experiment, said: ‘If experimental results continue in this positive direction, we hope that these painless, safe, and cheap non-invasive stimulation techniques will one-day be used in the clinic, classrooms, and even home to help those who struggle with certain cognitive tasks.’

http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2013/130517.html