Key Questions Answered
Q: What does the system do?
A: It uses AI and non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance attention during mentally demanding tasks.
Q: How is it personalised?
A: The AI tailors stimulation intensity based on features like head size and attention level, eliminating the need for costly MRI scans.
Q: What kind of stimulation is used?
A: The system uses transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), a gentle, non-invasive electrical technique.
Q: Is it safe and effective?
A: Yes. In a double-blind study, participants who received AI-personalised stimulation had significant attention improvements, especially those with lower baseline focus, and no serious side effects were reported.
Summary: Researchers have developed an AI-powered brain stimulation system that safely enhances attention at home. Using adaptive algorithms and non-invasive electrical stimulation, the system adjusts intensity based on individual traits like head size and current focus levels.
In trials, participants receiving AI-guided stimulation showed significantly better sustained attention than those receiving standard or placebo stimulation, especially among those with initially low attention. This personalised system could help people improve concentration during study or work, without needing expensive clinical equipment.
Key Facts:
- Home-Based Focus Boost: A wearable, AI-driven device safely enhances attention from home.
- Personalisation Without MRI: AI adjusts stimulation using basic traits like head size and baseline focus, avoiding costly scans.
- Better Results for Low Focus: The biggest gains were seen in users who initially had lower attention levels.
Source: University of Surrey
A personalised brain stimulation system powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that can safely enhance concentration from home has been developed by researchers from the University of Surrey, the University of Oxford and Cognitive Neurotechnology.
Designed to adapt to individual characteristics, the system could help people improve focus during study, work, or other mentally demanding tasks.
Published in npj Digital Medicine, the study is based on a patented approach that uses non-invasive brain stimulation alongside adaptive AI to maximise its impact.
The technology uses transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) – a gentle and painless form of electrical brain stimulation – and an AI algorithm that learns to personalise stimulation based on individual features, including attention level and head size.
By tailoring stimulation intensity to these characteristics, the system identified optimal settings without the need for expensive MRI scans, making the personalisation scalable and cost-effective.
The AI was trained using data from 103 people aged 18 to 35, who completed 290 home-based sessions using CE-marked (European Union standard) headgear and a tablet-based sustained attention task. The system was then evaluated in a double-blind study involving 37 new participants.
Those who received personalised AI-guided stimulation showed significantly better performance than during standard or placebo stimulation. The strongest improvements were seen in individuals who initially showed lower levels of attention.
Professor Roi Cohen Kadosh, Head of Psychology at the University of Surrey, Founder of Cognite Neurotechnology Ltd and lead author of the study, said:
“Our modern world constantly competes for our attention. What is exciting about this work is that we have shown it is possible to safely and effectively enhance cognitive performance using a personalised system that people can use independently at home.
“This opens new possibilities for improving sustained attention, learning, and other cognitive abilities in a way that is accessible, adaptive, and scalable.
“Our work highlights the growing role of AI and wearable neurotechnology in enabling personalised, real-world cognitive enhancement, with potential applications across education, training, and future clinical use.”
The study found no serious side effects and the frequency and severity of sensations during stimulation were no different from those experienced during placebo. The AI also helped avoid stimulation levels that could impair performance – something previous non-personalised methods could not achieve.
About this AI and neurotech research news
Author: Dalitso Njolinjo
Source: University of Surrey
Contact: Dalitso Njolinjo – University of Surrey
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Personalized home based neurostimulation via AI optimization augments sustained attention” by Roi Cohen Kadosh et al. npj Digital Medicine
Abstract
Personalized home based neurostimulation via AI optimization augments sustained attention
Brain-based technologies for human augmentation face challenges in personalization and real-world translation.
We present an AI-driven personalized Bayesian optimization algorithm that remotely adjusts neurostimulation parameters based on baseline ability and head anatomy to enhance sustained attention at home.
Validated through in silico modeling and a double-blind, sham-controlled study, our approach aligns with MRI-based models and neurobiological theories, maximizing efficacy and enabling scalable, personalized cognitive enhancement and therapy in real-world settings.
