
What to expect from your tDCS session
These short blurbs are in conjunction with our tDCS workshop at the Defcon-25 conference in Las Vegas 2017, Biohacking Village .
What should you expect to feel and experience when you try tDCS? Electrical buzzing, euphoria, instant blossoming of cognition?
As far as the moment by moment experience, the reality is somewhat less exciting. There are good indications that tDCS can have some interesting cognitive effects, but you probably won’t “feel” it as you are doing it.
Phosphenes
Some people will experience flashes of light in their vision when practicing tDCS. This effect can sometimes be mitigated by attention to the output amperage, for instance ramping up more slowly. Adjusting the placement of the electrode (changing the montage) can also mitigate this effect.
Irritation
Irritation can sometimes occur at the site of the electrodes. This can occur for a few reasons. A poor conductive connection, like an electrode that is too dry or not fully in contact with the skin, can be a reason for the irritation. The electricity itself can cause discomfort for some folks. The salinity of the moisture in the electrode can be a factor for some. Over salty is more likely to be an irritant.
Nausea
Some people have reported dizziness and or nausea associated with tDCS. Again, change of electrode placement can be helpful.
Epilepsy and seizure
We want to be clear here: we make no definitive claim here on this topic. It seems however that people with epilepsy and conditions related to seizure are generally advised that tDCS is contraindicated for them.
(Please look for additional Medium entries regarding topics like ‘device build details’, ‘electrode placement’ , and ‘tDCS resources’.)
