Taking a 9-Volt to the Brain Increases Videogame Skill

[Tim Latshaw]

I shoved a different 9-volt into my brain.

http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/1/11326/337039-215px_9_volt_warioware_smooth_moves_large.png
I found it to be much more effective.

http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/12100000/18-volt-wario-ware-smooth-moves-12153585-390-400.jpg

Twice as effective.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

While it might prove that small volts of electricity improves learning-based tasks, large amounts of electricity would improve the overall intelligence level of the human gene pool.

Maybe.

 

[RatRace123]

So, I'm reading this and assuming that sticking my tounge in an electrical socket will make me even awesomer.

[sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub]DisclaimerO NOT ATTEMPT THIS, SERIOUSLY... DUDE. DON'T, SERIOUSLY, DON'T... OKAY, JUST DON'T. SERIOUSLY.[/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[Psycho Cat Industries]

If this is supposed to make the brain preform at a higher level then average then wouldn't it cause depression like some drugs?I mean,the whole premise of this is to increase brain activity and with drugs,when that happens,the brain starts to act weaker when not connected as well as proves the method addicting.Why is this any different?

 

[StellarViking]

Pfft. I've been cramming batteries up my nose for years without any ill effefefefects.

 

[Jumwa]

Now if I do this and cut off all my other non-WoW spare-time activities, I can raid again!

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

Spoiler: I see no way that this news can end badly

 

[cairocat]

Aww, DARPA, you're so kooky, hooking up brains to batteries and doing crazy stuff Sci-Fi shenanigans with our tax dollars. Every few weeks a DARPA headline breaks and I get a good chuckle...

 

[Super Toast]

...I think I'll pass.

 

[Baneat]

So doing this!

 

[Mahorfeus]

DARPA Chief says, use more 9-Volt!

 

[Bek359]

Now you've done it...

Next thing you know, every idiot with a nine volt is going to end up at the hospital.

9 volts isn't a lot of electricity. It's pretty much impossible to hurt yourself with 9 volts, unless you actually eat the battery or something, but that's a chemical problem, not an electrical one.

 

[Manicotti]

Oh my god.

I can build an actual thinking cap now!

 

[Twilight_guy]

You mean if someone is actively shocking my head I'd be more awake then if I wasn't being shocked? Funny that.

I think this is just a matter of the increased electricity creating an increase level of response in the brain to danger and thus upping the chemical responsible for danger awareness and making them slightly better at being aware.

 

[Th37thTrump3t]

Sooo... I should hook a 9volt battery to wires and attach those wires to my head to be better at say, Call of Duty?

 

[Low Key]

Get electrocuted and play video games. Who would volunteer for something like that? And does that mean soldiers will be attached to a battery out in the field?

 

[Canid117]

Now you've done it...

Next thing you know, every idiot with a nine volt is going to end up at the hospital.

Let the universe weed out the stupid if it wants to.

 

[HeartAttackBob]

This looks like a false positive. Chances are the researchers inadvertently did something to cue the subjects that they were supposed to do better. The placebo effect is plenty powerful enough to account for this sort of thing. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfRVCaA5o18 )

Still, it's in Nature, so it deserves enough credibility to be replicated.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

So if I tape a battery to my head I get to use tactical mode?