Gentle brain stimulation with electricity may improve short-term memory in people with schizophrenia, a small study suggests.
The procedure, called transcranial direct current stimulation, involves placing sponge-covered electrodes on the head and passing a weak electrical current between them. It is widely regarded as safe and also is being studied for depression, Alzheimer’s-related memory loss, and stroke recovery.
Results of the new study may give people with schizophrenia hope for a more normal life, says David Schretlen, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University.
“Cognitive impairment is as ubiquitous as hallucinations in schizophrenia, yet medications only treat the hallucinations,” Schretlen says. “So even with medication, affected individuals often remain very disabled.”
