Brain hackers
This is the page of the Brain Hackers aka the Neurohacking/Neuromodulation London Hackspace Group. We do experiments and play around with kits to measure and alter brain activity in a non-invasive way and develop novel accessible neurostimulation means accompanied by real time measurement and feedback. Some of us are trained neuroscientists or electronics engineers, others are hobbyists. All friendly and interested people are welcome to volunteer and participate in trials, but everything is obviously at your own risk (where such risk may exist).
List of kit available by different members of the group:
-EEG -> multiple copies of the 1 channel bipolar (TrueSense Kit) recorder, MindWave Mobile (1 channel), Emotiv Epoc (14 channels), KT88 (16 channels, photoic stimulation), AMEA slow potentials mapper (2 channels)
-tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) -> DIY, awaiting second release of foc.us
-tACS (transcranial alternate current stimulation) -> DIY, DrTES (transcranial analgesia device)
-Transcranial laser / decoherent light stimulation within optical permeability window of tissues (roughly between 600 and 1200 nm) -> Matrix LLLT with in-built photometer and external SRT block, impulse modulated 890 nm single and matrix lasers, continuous modulated 810 and 640 nm, all-inclusive large laser/LED head, impulse modulated 640 nm single and matrix lasers are on the way.
-Weak field TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation, microtesla range or even lower) -> 64 coil Koren helmet augmented for placement of more coils, smaller phone tap coils - based hats and setups, large (3m) coil
-Other -> SGR sensor, photopletismograph, modulated high voltage "singing arc", scopes, magnetometers, function generators, amps etc.
Some of the project ideas we are interested in and would be eager to test in regard to different neuromodulation means:
1. tDCS
- measurement! Can it be run with simultaneous measurement of EEG activity without damaging the sensor and producing meaningful data? Currently available tDCS kits provide no real time feedback
- interaction of tDCS with other neurostimulation means including light and low induction TMS
- interaction of tDCS with nootropics (such as ampakines like piracetam) or ergotropics (such as modafinil and bromantane) for those already using such drugs
2. tACS/tRNS (transcranial random noise stimulation)
- can the benefits of both tDCS and tACS be gained if monophasic pulsed current is used?
- the colours of noise in tRNS ! Would they make any difference?
3. Coherent/decoherent light
- does the wavelength makes much difference and what is it?
- continuous light stimulation versus impulse stimulation with high peak power very short bursts: how would the effects differ?
- continuous versus modulated stimulation: how do we modulate? what are the observed differences?
4. Weak field TMS (also called LiTMS - low induction TMS in some sources)
- do God Helmet, "octopus", "shakti" and other Dr. Persinger's stimulation protocols actually work?
- what other signals can be applied, and how
- reproducing "Zhadin effect" (see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614765/ as a starting reading material) at Hackspace - can we do it?
- generally, checking whether the KT (Bolzmann constant x temperature) termodynamic limitation withstands!
5. Other
- producing software capable of using ERP's (Evoked Response Potentials) with simple and cheap BCI like the Mindwave or TSK sensors
Of course, you are more than welcome to suggest other relevant ideas to test and projects to try. The possibilities are, indeed, "Limitless" (pun intended)
For neuroscientific and technical questions and curiosities involving brain hacking, feel free to get in touch with any of the following:
Martin Dinov
Andrew Vladimirov
Dirk Bruere
This page just got created, so have patience - it'll get more exciting and interesting over time.