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Since Kevin Kelly and Gary Wolf coined the term quantified self nearly two decades ago, an entire industry has grown around personal activity trackers to count our steps, schedule our optimal sleep, and monitor biomarkers like heart rate and blood sugar.<\/p>\n
But what about our brains? Mental health is not only one of the biggest challenges as we age, but it is also one of the clearest indicators of our overall health, happiness, and how we react to the food we eat.<\/p>\n
In other words, if we are going to use technology to monitor and empower our bodies, it makes sense that the next step is to do the same for our minds. The Fitbit of our brains, if you will.<\/p>\n
The concept of “optimizing” brain health is not new. The last decade has seen a wave of nootropics, supplements, and “brain enhancement” products that promise better focus, memory, and mental clarity. But much of that segment has lived in the gray area between science and snake oil, with results that are often hard to measure and even harder to own.<\/p>\n
This is where a new class of technology emerges, one that goes beyond edibles to direct interaction with the mind itself.<\/p>\n
One company working on this is U The Mind, which makes non-invasive (ie, non-invasive) technology designed to monitor and model brain activity. The company’s approach falls into a growing field known as neuromodulation, where electrical signals are used to influence brain activity.<\/p>\n
I recently caught up with CEO Mo Abouelsoud on the Spoon Podcast to talk about where he sees this space going and why he believes brain health is poised to become a central pillar of modern life.<\/p>\n
“We are developing brain stimulation devices for many different neurological disorders, as well as cognitive development,” Abouelsoud said. So stimulating the brain sends these small, very small electrical signals, the same amount that runs through the brain to certain areas of the brain to activate that area.<\/p>\n
Unlike implantable systems like those being developed by Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which require surgery to place electrodes directly on or in the brain, the U The Mind device works entirely outside the body. The system sends signals through the skull, a challenge with a history of limited effectiveness. According to Abouelsoud, his team has devised a way to overcome that obstacle: \u201cWe can do all that from outside.<\/p>\n
While it remains to be seen whether the technology works as well as implantable systems, my guess \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bis has has has has to be seen that the non-invasive methods will eventually be a much larger market compared to the remote. After all, who wants a chip controlled by Elon Musk in their brain?<\/p>\n
For Abouelsoud, the rise of brain-centered technology is a natural extension of limited self-movement. As consumers continue to track everything from sleep to glucose levels, he sees brain activity as one of the key missing signals. “The most important thing is brain activity, because if you are not aware, it can be a disaster.”<\/p>\n
While the company’s early focus has been on programs that can help those with critical illnesses like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, they’re working on an over-the-counter consumer product later this year that’s aimed more at the budding health hacker set.<\/p>\n
“We have a machine that will come out at the end of this year that will be recording brain data as well as brain stimulation,” said Abouelsoud. He described the program as being able to be used in different areas throughout the day and combined with inputs such as diet and behavior to better understand how daily habits affect cognitive function.<\/p>\n
Entering the mainstream consumer space with brain health programs is exciting, but it also brings risks. Unlike conventional wearables or supplements, neuromodulation systems interact with the mind, and the margin of error is very small. Abouelsoud said that if the signals are not developed properly, they can cause less desirable effects such as worse sleep or anxiety.<\/p>\n
However, he believes this phase is in its infancy and will be on par with other health hacking and DIY wellness technologies.<\/p>\n
“In the next 10 years, we’re going to see an explosion of brain stimulation devices,” he said. “I think brain stimulation is one of the few technologies that will be around for decades to come because of how important and important it is in terms of activating neuronal circuits within the brain.”<\/p>\n
You can listen to my full interview with Mo Abouelsoud by clicking play below, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.<\/p>\n