Mental Changes Resulting from the Passage of Small Direct Currents Through the Human Brain

The passage of small direct currents through nerve cells gives rise to changes in their excitability. For example an outward current flow through the membrane of the soma gives rise to depolarization and a consequent fall in the threshold for excitation of the neurone. When a cell lies in an applied...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of psychiatry 1964-11, Vol.110 (469), p.768-772
Main Authors: Lippold, O. C. J., Redfearn, J. W. T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical Research
Brain - physiology
Depression
Depressive Disorder
Electric Stimulation Therapy
Electrophysiology
Humans
Old Medline
Psychophysiology
Schizophrenia
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Summary:The passage of small direct currents through nerve cells gives rise to changes in their excitability. For example an outward current flow through the membrane of the soma gives rise to depolarization and a consequent fall in the threshold for excitation of the neurone. When a cell lies in an applied external electrical field a potential gradient exists between the cell body and its distant processes. If this gradient is such that the cell body is negative relative to its processes, the cell becomes more excitable; it becomes less excitable when the cell body is relatively positive.
ISSN:0007-1250
1472-1465
DOI:10.1192/bjp.110.469.768