Can at-home brain stimulators make you feel better?
For now, the evidence for neuromodulation products is slim
FLOW NEUROSCIENCE, a Swedish company, advertises its headset as a way to “stop suffering from depression [and] feel alive again”. Nurosym, a British firm, promises that its earpiece is capable of “improving health without surgery or drugs”. Neurode, an Australian startup, says it is developing a headband that can “improve focus, impulse control and memory” in people with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
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This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Should you zap your own brain?”
From the May 3rd 2025 edition
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An interstellar object is cruising through the solar system
Its appearance puts a new branch of astronomy to the test
RFK junior wants to ban an ingredient in vaccines. Is he right?
Studies show that thimerosal does more good than harm
AI is helping to design proteins from scratch
They could treat diseases, test drugs and boost crop yields
A new project aims to synthesise a human chromosome
The tools developed along the way could revolutionise medicine
How sea slugs give themselves superpowers
Their slimy shenanigans might have applications for humans, too
Is being bilingual good for your brain?
Perhaps. Learning languages offers other, more concrete benefits