Improving cognition with a light electric jolt to the brain

+ Remembering Tina Turner, the singer's singer US Edition - Today's top story: Rhythmically stimulating the brain with electrical currents could boost cognitive function, according to analysis of over 100 studies [View in browser]( US Edition | 25 May 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Lula’s diplomatic dance is tried and tested routine]( - [Why people in red states live cheaper, die younger]( - [Is there a road map to an ethical AI environment?]( Lead story Neurons that fire in sync together function better together. And giving them a little electrical nudge to fall in rhythm with each other could help improve cognitive function. Interest in the potential of directly stimulating the brain to treat neuropsychiatric conditions and cognitive decline has burgeoned over the years. One approach, called transcranial alternating current brain stimulation, or tACS, involves wearing a cap embedded with electrodes that send weak, oscillating electrical currents to the scalp. Whether it has the capacity to change mental function has been a topic of debate in the field. To help resolve conflicting evidence on the benefits of this procedure, Boston University cognition and memory researcher Shrey Grover and his colleagues compiled and reviewed data from over 100 studies on tACS and cognitive function. They found that this form of brain stimulation could [enhance multiple types of cognition]( for both healthy people and those vulnerable to changes in mental function. “Developments in the field of tACS are bringing researchers closer to being able to safely enhance mental function in a noninvasive way that doesn’t require medication,” Grover writes. [[Sign up here to our topic-specific weekly emails.](] Vivian Lam Associate Health and Biomedicine Editor A meta-analysis helps resolve conflicting evidence on the benefits of tACS. Science Photo Library via Getty Images [Rhythmically stimulating the brain with electrical currents could boost cognitive function, according to analysis of over 100 studies]( Shrey Grover, Boston University Transcranial alternating current stimulation, or tACS, is a type of brain stimulation that can change neural activity and improve memory, attention and executive function. Politics + Society - [Lula’s diplomatic dance is nothing new for Brazil or its leader – what has changed is the world around him]( Rafael R. Ioris, University of Denver Lula’s courting of – or by – China and Western powers has confounded critics. But in reality, it is a continuation of the foreign policy he pursued during his earlier term in power. - [Americans are increasingly moving to red, Republican-leaning states – where life is cheaper, but people also die younger]( Robert Samuels, University of California, Santa Barbara Idaho, Montana and Florida had the highest population growth among US states between 2020 and 2022. - [NFL icon and social activist Jim Brown leaves a complicated legacy]( Kenneth L. Shropshire, University of Pennsylvania The death of NFL great and Hollywood star Jim Brown renews questions about the role of modern-day athletes in political and social issues. - [Africa is getting renewed attention from Washington — and some African states are courting African Americans]( Asafa Jalata, University of Tennessee As the United States government builds economic and security ties with African countries, some of those countries are encouraging African Americans to establish social and economic ties in Africa. Science + Technology - [China’s hypersonic missiles threaten US power in the Pacific – an aerospace engineer explains how the weapons work and the unique threats they pose]( Iain Boyd, University of Colorado Boulder China’s newest hypersonic missile, the DF-27, could sideline US aircraft carrier groups in the Pacific, while missiles in the works in China, Russia and the US threaten global security. Arts + Culture - [Empowerment, individual strength and the many facets of love: Why I fell for Tina Turner]( Leigh Carriage, Southern Cross University The legendary singer has died at 83. Her performance practice exemplified fierce hard work. - [What is vernacular art? A visual artist explains]( Beauvais Lyons, University of Tennessee The genre – also known as ‘folk art’ or ‘outsider art’ – serves as a reminder that art is a universal human pursuit. Economy + Business - [What is ‘ethical AI’ and how can companies achieve it?]( Dennis Hirsch, The Ohio State University; Piers Turner, The Ohio State University Companies that want to avoid the harms of AI, such as bias or privacy violations, lack clear-cut guidelines on how to act responsibly. That makes internal management and decision-making critical. Trending on site - [Debunking the Dunning-Kruger effect – the least skilled people know how much they don’t know, but everyone thinks they are better than average]( - [Turkey’s Erdoğan took a page from US presidents and boosted reelection campaign by claiming to have killed a terrorist]( - [Gravitational wave detector LIGO is back online after 3 years of upgrades – how the world’s most sensitive yardstick reveals secrets of the universe]( Today's graphic [A map of the United States showing cities, states and counties that are suing oil companies over damage caused by climate change or misleading the public about the risks.]( From the story, [More than two dozen cities and states are suing Big Oil over climate change – they just got a boost from the US Supreme Court]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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