The study suggests that gamblers, shoppers and compulsive consumers could be “regulated” with the brain
- The non-invasive technique involves placing electrodes on the patient’s scalp
- Electrodes deliver currents at specific frequencies to “adjust” brain waves
- During the tests, the technique reduced obsessive-compulsive behaviors for up to 3 months, with the greatest improvements in those with the most severe symptoms.
According to new research, troubled gamblers, shoppers and compulsive consumers could have their brains “regulated” by shooting them with electricity.
The non-invasive technique involves sending small shocks of electricity to the orbitofrontal cortex – an area of gray matter that slows down in people with addictions.
Researchers hope that the unusual technique could open the door to combating a series of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that affects about one in eight people on the planet.
According to new research, troubled players, shoppers and people with eating disorders could be cured by “zapping” their brains.
Uncontrollable urges can be life-threatening – leading to obesity, substance abuse or financial ruin.
“This new form of personalized brain modulation can be effective in producing long-term benefits for people who are suffering from actions such as compulsive eating, gambling, and shopping,” said Dr. Robert Reinhart of Boston University in the United States, which authorized the study.
Called HD-tACS (high definition transcranial alternating current stimulation), the therapy involves placing electrodes on the patient’s scalp.
They provide low currents at specific frequencies to “adjust” brain waves, Dr. Reinhart explained.
His team applied therapy to 124 volunteers with different levels of OCD for a period of five days.
After participating in the sessions, men and women performed better in a series of laboratory experiments that tested their self-control, such as gambling resistance.
Dr. Reinhart said: “It reduced obsessive-compulsive behavior for up to 3 months – with the greatest improvement seen in those with the most severe symptoms.”
The non-invasive technique involves sending small shocks of electricity to the orbitofrontal cortex (shown in pink to the left of the diagram) – an area of gray matter that slows down in people with addictions.
The brain-zapping technique could open the door to combat a number of conditions, including problem gambling (stock image)
The new treatment opens the door to combating a series of diseases that affect around one in eight people on the planet.
Dr. Reinhart said: “Nearly one billion people worldwide suffer from obsessive-compulsive behavior, yet our mechanistic understanding of them is incomplete and effective therapy is not available.”
They are widespread in the general population and cause significant suffering to the individual.
This new form of personalized brain modulation can be effective in producing long-term benefits for people suffering from actions such as compulsive eating, gambling and shopping (stock image)
Existing treatments such as antidepressants and other medications produce disappointing results – and can cause side effects.
Dr. Reinhart said: “With non-invasive neuromodulation, interventions can be customized according to individual neurophysiological dynamics.”
Mental health charities have said the number of people seeking help for obsessive-compulsive disorder has risen sharply since the beginning of the pandemic.
Mental health charities say the number of people seeking help for obsessive-compulsive disorder has risen sharply since the beginning of the pandemic (stock image)
Dr. Reinhart said: “Currently, our results provide causal evidence for the involvement of obsessive-compulsive behavior of orbitofrontal cortex.
The specific effects of neuromodulation frequency provide a mechanistic perspective on neurophysiology that can be targeted to improve symptoms.
“The personalized design of the neuromodulation capitalizes on the neuroplastic properties of the brain to produce long-lasting effects through the chronic administration of HD-TACS.
Although we examined a sub-clinical population in the present study, the observed benefits provide motivation for further investigation of personalized neuromodulation as an experimental drug for obsessive-compulsive spectrum clinical disorders.
The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine.