The Research And Development Of A Sports Performance Enhancing Helmet Based On Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Purpose This paper aims to research and develop a sports helmet which integrates a Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation(tDCS)device,which allows the user to receive tDCS stimulation before and during sports activities to achieve the effect of sports performance enhancement.Methods Firstly,we summarize the tDCS parameters such as the size of the electrodes,the electrodes position and montage,the polarity of the electrodes,the intensity of the stimulation and the duration of the stimulation from the literature concerning tDCS and sports performance.Secondly,we design and integrates the tDCS device into the helmet without compromise the quality and the function of the helmet itself.An ESP32 single board computer and its peripherals are controlled with programs coded with MicroPython programing language,so that the tDCS device is fully user controllable during the progress,for example,to start,pause and stop the stimulation,to increase or decrease the intensity of the current,to maintain a stable current output per user's setting.The graphical user interface(GUI)is realized by using Vue.js framework which is based on JavaScript programing languages.The user is able to control the tDCS device with his/her own mobile device.Lastly,in order to valid the effectiveness of the tDCS stimulation offered by the helmet,we compare the tech specification and physical parameters with the commercially available products on the market.Result We managed to make a tDCS device integrated helmet.The helmet not only can apply tDCS stimulation to the primary motor cortex,also can apply such stimulation to the cerebellum.The intensity of the stimulation is user settable at max of 2.5mA.There are 15 seconds ramping stages during the start and the end of the stimulation to minimize the discomfort.The progress can be paused or stopped at any time by user during the stimulation.User's mobile phone or tablet computer is connected to the tDCS device through Wifi wireless connection,and full information about the stimulation such as the remaining time,intensity etc is displayed on the GUI,and the operation of the tDCS device can be done with the GUI.The effect of the tDCS stimulation offered by this helmet is comparable to that of the commercially available tDCS product.Conclusion The tDCS device integrated helmet is safe and comfortable to wear,and won't interference with sports activities.It offers similar tDCS stimulation which is comparable to the commercially available products.