Could wearable technology replace a glass of wine or a cup of coffee as a relaxation tool? Several companies think so, but one Penn Memory Center researcher said he has not yet worn the tech.
Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC’s “Note To Self,” tried a combination of wearable technology and an app called Thync as a relaxation tool.
The idea is that by pairing software and headphones, “you can make your brain better,” Zomorodi said.
Dr. Roy Hamilton, who in addition to his work at the Penn Memory Center directs the University of Pennsylvania’s Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, said there is no evidence that products like Thync could have longterm adverse effects, but he still hasn’t personally tested the app.
“Your brain is not just one cognitive function. Your brain is circuits modulating, circuits interacting with networks that interact with other networks,” Hamilton said. “It’s the most complex instrument in the known universe, and we’re hitting it with current in these pretty crude ways.”
You can hear the complete Note to Self episode at www.wnyc.org.