Electrically stimulating the brain improves math skills, say researchers

New Scientist : Researchers at the University of Oxford report in Current Biology that applying an electric current to a particular area of the human brain can improve mathematical abilities for at least six months. Roi Cohen Kadosh’s team applied transcranial direct current stimulation to the right parietal cortex while simultaneously using the opposite current to subdue activity in the left parietal cortex. “This isn’t going to turn you into a genius,” said Cohen Kadosh, “but it could be turned into a device to help children with poor numeracy skills improve their mathematical abilities.”