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Medical risks

Regulate devices for brain stimulation

Nature volume 533, page 179 (2016)Cite this article

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We are concerned that the rapid development and increased accessibility of non-invasive technologies with alleged brain-enhancing capabilities is allowing commercial interest to outpace regulatory mechanisms (see Nature 531, 283–284; 2016 and Nature 531, S6–S8; 2016).

Only limited technical ability is required to build a brain-stimulation device at home — or to dress it up and market it commercially. Even though electrical current can endanger cardiovascular and neural function (see go.nature.com/ej3kgx), there are currently no requirements for safety or efficacy testing of home-use devices through clinical-style trials. Beyond the safety of the devices themselves, the impact of regular or sustained personal use of brain stimulators is unknown.

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  1. University of Melbourne, Australia

    Olivia Carter & Jason Forte

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  1. Olivia Carter
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  2. Jason Forte
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Correspondence to Olivia Carter.

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Carter, O., Forte, J. Regulate devices for brain stimulation. Nature 533, 179 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/533179d

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  1. Claude MAWAS

    I support this warning and hope that regulatory medical institutions control both the medical pres cription and the commercial devices

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