A new study reveals that AI-powered brain stimulation can significantly improve concentration when used at home. Developed by researchers from the University of Surrey and partners, this personalized system holds promise for education, work and beyond.
A cutting-edge brain stimulation system powered by artificial intelligence and designed for home use has been developed by researchers from the University of Surrey, working in collaboration with the University of Oxford and Cognitive Neurotechnology Ltd. This innovative technology promises to improve concentration and cognitive performance, offering significant potential for educational and professional settings.
Published in the journal npj Digital Medicine, the study introduces a customized system that integrates non-invasive brain stimulation with adaptive AI to amplify its effectiveness.
The technology employs transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), a safe and painless form of electrical brain stimulation, along with an AI algorithm that tailors the stimulation to individual characteristics such as attention levels and head size. This allows the system to optimize its efficacy without the costly need for MRI scans, making it both scalable and economical.
The AI algorithm was trained using data from a diverse group of 103 individuals aged 18 to 35, who participated in 290 home-based sessions utilizing CE-marked headgear and a tablet designed for sustained attention tasks.
The system’s effectiveness was subsequently tested in a double-blind study involving 37 new participants, revealing that those who received personalized AI-guided stimulation exhibited markedly improved performance compared to traditional or placebo methods. The most significant gains were noted in individuals initially demonstrating lower attention levels.
“Our modern world constantly competes for our attention. What is exciting about this work is that we have shown it is possible to safely and effectively enhance cognitive performance using a personalized system that people can use independently at home,” lead author Roi Cohen Kadosh, the head of School of Psychology and a professor of cognitive science at the University of Surrey, said in a news release. “This opens new possibilities for improving sustained attention, learning and other cognitive abilities in a way that is accessible, adaptive and scalable.”
Importantly, the study reported no significant side effects, with sensation levels during stimulation comparable to those experienced during placebo sessions. The adaptive AI also proficiently avoided stimulation intensities that could impair performance, a crucial advancement over previous non-personalized methods.
“Our work highlights the growing role of AI and wearable neurotechnology in enabling personalized, real-world cognitive enhancement, with potential applications across education, training and future clinical use,” added Cohen Kadosh, who is also the founder of Cognite Neurotechnology.
Source: University of Surrey