Brain-based devices: How well do they work?

There are more than 10,000 patent filings for brain-based devices that claim to help people “develop muscle memory faster,” “lose weight,” “monitor and act on…sleep,” and “treat depression.” Many of the websites featuring these devices cite “science” as backing up their claims. However, a recent review by science journalist Diana Kwon concluded that the large majority of these claims are not scientifically valid. As a consumer, how can you separate hype from science when deciding to use a brain-based device? Even when there is science, you can’t assume that a device will work for you Many people choose to ignore scientific findings, even when there is published evidence supporting a view. While this is understandable, it makes little sense to completely ignore scientific findings when you are evaluating new technologies. For the scientific community to believe that a device is helpful, they usually consider the following basic factors: True positive findings: There must be a statistically significant difference between the device and a placebo or sham treatment. Replication: There are many different experiments by different groups that show a device has worked. Control: The device should be compared to a placebo or sham treatment to show that it had a real effect. Blindness: People conducting the experiment should not know what they are administering, and participants should not know what they are receiving. When both researchers and participants are ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Brain and cognitive health Health trends Medical Research Source Type: blogs