HUMM, a San Francisco-based tech company, has developed the Edge headset, a wearable electrical stimulation device that the company claims can boost learning and memory. The device consists of a headband that delivers electrical stimulation to the brain, and using it for just 15 minutes is reported to provide certain cognitive enhancements for at least one hour.
In an increasingly fast-paced and competitive world, researchers have been exploring electrical brain stimulation as a way to enhance our cognitive abilities at the flick of a switch. People think nothing of using a stimulant such as coffee to improve their concentration and energy levels, but stimulants can have side-effects such as sleep disturbance.
The goal of electrical brain stimulation is to enhance performance of cognitive tasks without the side-effects of medication or the time and effort required for meditation. The product has a wide base of potential users, from people in the workplace to students in college.
The technology is non-invasive and is based on previous clinical research. HUMM has carried out a clinical trial, and reported that users experienced no adverse effects, and demonstrated improved memory function in a battery of tests. The headset delivers a very small electrical charge, which the company describes as about 1/100th of the power already used by the brain. HUMM is inviting people to get involved in their early access program, to be one of the first to try the new headset.