New device to 'zap away' depression, migraines?

This transcript is automatically generated

-- welcome back everybody right now it seems that there's a promising new tool to fight depression a condition that -- some nineteen million Americans.

And this -- and it is drug free scientists say tiny electrodes attached to the scalp.

Can do what drugs -- -- some times almost switching off depression if you well.

Their work is published in the journal of the American Medical Association we have a great guests with us today doctor Matthew thank you -- -- in chief.

At new York presbyterian Weill Cornell medical scanner.

See the person to talk to neurologists and chief doctors nice to have you with us today you know when you think about anything that has to do with electricity.

-- hate tin man I get that scene from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with electroshock therapy and that's like the image I think a lot of us think about.

-- we think about electricity in the brain in treatment.

How does this difference.

This is very different because these are very very.

Small.

Simulations.

Of the brain that in a very safe way and they can -- be done by direct stimulation.

With what's called DC current or magnetic stimulation it's it's so it is an extremely.

Safe treatment does it hurt -- it does not hurt the patients feel nothing at all any -- -- or something like that barely a tingle barely a tangle if it's very safe.

And it's something which has great promise it cannot hurt anyone it really is very safe.

Why it went this -- Effective for depression.

We think there are two things that it can do at a certain frequency of stimulation which means you can stimulate rapidly or slowly.

At a certain frequency it will.

Inhibit certain brain regions and add another frequency it will stimulate certain brain regions so.

That we think the depression is due to a part of the brain which may be over active.

You can inhibit it by stimulating it or if we think a part of the brain is under active.

We can stimulated to increase the activity so it has great promise to do a number of different things.

Had brain your hand right yes that it went that -- viewers as not to -- -- walker how does she is not real this -- the plastic I finally I would really a freezing me out you know this is seeking licking -- Add this one city about depression we -- looking -- another story on those that suffer from migraines.

And it seems that.

I'm Alex electricity would be caught you know what nobody called it fits in general electrical stimulation electrical stimulation of magnetic stimulator so that -- can be used for abroad.

Spectrum of different things from depression to schizophrenia had to parkinson's and I disease it to migraines yes I migraines what what how how does it work there.

Migraine is a little different what we do for migraine is we don't stimulate the brain itself we stimulate the nerves around -- scroll around in the scalp.

And that will inhibit my -- so they're nerves in the front in the far had the nerves in the match.

And we stimulate those nerves in the scalp and that can create that can inhibit -- Some equipment this -- does have a therapy mean that someone that's been taking patent you know medication from migraines for twenty years -- -- -- not have to take medication anymore.

Not likely to be that dramatic -- but more likely that will reduce the frequency of the migraines quite a bit so they can take less medication not likely to eliminate it completely.

See -- and let's take a look at this brain with this panel story can you this -- -- caught our attention when doctored German scientist believes.

That you can actually look at the front of -- brain.

And see and what he called it a dark patch and evil -- she calls it because the dark spot he believes indicates.

A criminal a -- -- criminal our current criminal mind.

In your expertise -- -- think about that.

The brain is the source of all behavior good to bad evil and everything in between but.

What this doctor is saying is -- Gross oversimplification.

Of the way things work I'm assuming he's talking about the test called a functional MR I -- Which is measuring blood flow in certain areas of the brain there is no one part of the brain that is responsible for evil.

There are multiple inter connections between multiple areas of the brain.

That are responsible for our behavior and they vary from person to person so even to people with the same behavior.

It -- be triggered by different kinds of connections so.

His.

Tiger -- is so I'm not so about it.

-- -- really I'm just curious how did you become that add a brain.

Surgeon -- -- how did you get into this field why were you fascinated by the brain.

I was always fascinated even as a little boy I think I'd just.

Loves to sit.

See how people behave and what they do and is when I learned that it was all due to the brain I was hooked.

It's and here you are and Aaron Rodgers and chief.

And carrying the brain around -- I appreciate -- thank you for reform meant to sound I'm happy to be here it's.

Watch Live

New device to 'zap away' depression, migraines?

Details

Clips

Happening Now

Study: Heartburn increases risk of some cancers

New developments in Maxim model murder trial

Is threat from global terror winding down or changing?

New information about the London terror suspects

Are drones necessary to prosecute war on terror?

Will prosecutors drop the death penalty in Jodi Arias trial?

Lawmakers overlooking CIA's role in Benghazi attack?

Rebuilding after disaster: Lesson of Greensburg, Kansas

Oklahoma tornado: After devastation comes threat of disease

Terror expert: Brutal London attack not random act

Special prosecutor in Lois Lerner's future?

What's next in IRS investigation?

Transcript

Recommended