‘Brain training’ is not a novel concept. But daily Sudukos, flirting with a rotation of memory-game apps and meditating at the back of a rush-hour bus can be a headache. And frankly, it’s all a bit passé. Because soon you will be able to enjoy all the benefits of mental advancement with a quick shock to the brain, delivered direct from your smartphone; wearable tech is moving beyond GPS watches into the sci-fi realms of mind-alternation.

Within minutes of opening the box I’m staring at a beach scene, sensors strapped to my forehead, listening to the wind

At least, that’s the aim of a team of Silicon Valley neuroscientists-cum-entrepreneurs. Their gadget the Thync works on the basis of ‘transcranial direct-current stimulation’ (tDCS), which is pretty much what it sounds like: an electric current applied directly to the head. But what might look like a dodgy DIY update on electroshock therapy is actually a fast-growing area of health science.

“The wearables market is already huge, expected to top $7bn in the US next year,” says Isy Goldwasser, Thync CEO and MIT chemical engineer. “But a lot of that is on passive technology: gadgets that monitor your activity rather than products that make a difference.”

This is how the gadget works: you strap the electrodes to your head and control them via your phone, stimulating specific neural pathways that rewire your state of mind. But Goldwasser points out that, “The electric field generated is only about half the strength of that which occurs naturally in the brain.” In other word, you can dispel any thoughts of the concluding scenes of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.

Evidence is part anecdotal. The thousands of Thync volunteers who’ve undergone trials have compared its Calm setting to “meditating, drinking a beer or taking a nap”; its Focus setting – designed to heighten your concentration and mental acuity – works like a can of Red Bull for your flagging 4pm brain. But according to Goldwasser, tests have also turned out quantitative evidence showing the vibes significantly reduce biochemical stress responses. Most recently, the Thync was trialled as a way to reduce feelings of nervousness ahead of first dates.

“The great thing is that we’re helping people achieve these states of mind without the common side effects of chemicals,” says Goldwasser. “And the effects last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.” In theory, you stand to gain all the benefits of your beloved crutches – without the booze belly or caffeine headaches.

The Thync is currently on sale for $299 (£190). If you’re eager to start tinkering with your grey matter, but idea of running even the mildest of currents through your cranium sits uneasily with you, you can try Muse (£238), which launched in the UK this year.

The “mental equivalent of a treadmill”, Muse promises a brighter mind in three minutes a day – which beats the Sunday crossword. Or an actual treadmill. This is brain-training for the QS generation: the headband maps and monitors your brainwaves while the phone app takes you through a series of guided exercises. Real-time feedback, the theory goes, lets you hone your attention span like a muscle.

“You begin with just three minutes a day, then work up to sessions as long as 20 minutes as your ‘brain fitness’ improves,” says co-founder Trevor Coleman. “With regular use you’ll learn to resist distractions and respond to situations in a more thoughtful and calm manner.” If you’re the kind of person who won’t bother with stairs unless he’s wearing a pedometer and only orders the chicken salad if it looks Instagram-worthy, then this mental-motivator you’ve been waiting for.

Confession: I am that person. So I decided to try Muse for myself. The app is quick and easy to set up – within minutes of opening the box I’m staring at a beach scene, sensors strapped to my forehead, listening to the wind and waves through my headphones. I am instructed to count my breaths. Each time my mind starts to busy itself with a flurry of unwanted thoughts, the winds pick up. I quite enjoy the whole ‘my mental state as a storm’ metaphor, as well as the childish sense of power I get from controlling the weather in this tiny imaginary landscape on my iPhone.

On my first attempt, I manage to keep a calm, clear mind for a total nine seconds throughout my three-minute session. Oh. Admittedly there are problems inherent to reviewing a meditation app; it goes against habit for me to try not to think about the experience I’m having, how I’d describe it it, whether it’s working. Still, I practise diligently and within a week my score has jumped from 5% to 65%, albeit with some pretty big fluctuations.

There’s a large element of trust involved with Muse. When I’m wearing an activity tracker I have a sense of its accuracy – I know when I’ve been lazy. But it’s hard to put a figure on focus. Still, I think I’m improving, and as thought is what we’re quantifying here, that must count for something. Plus it’s a whole lot more fun than mediating minus data.

Potentially, this new technology has applications far beyond your ability to stare at a spreadsheet without brain fog descending. Studies at London’s Institute of Neurology show that alpha brainwave training, similar to that Muse provides, leads to lasting positive changes in the way your synapses function. Back in the world of tDCS, scientists at the University of New Mexico have successfully used it to improve learning and visual responses in volunteers using a computer programme designed to train US soldiers. In the past year, the university’s Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center has been trialling tDCS as a way to cure addiction, and even ease the symptoms of schizophrenia. And, again, with a fair amount of success.

Clinical trials are still ongoing, and homemade devices using nine-volt batteries and wet sponges (yes, people are actually doing this…) are sketchy at best. So give the Muse a shot if you’ve hit a mental wall with you meditation practice, or just fancy a new toy to play with. But if you have neither the cash nor confidence to become an early adopter, best wait this one out. You can have another stab at that Sudoku while you do.

Scarlett Wrench Scarlett Wrench is the Features Editor at Men’s Health and she specialises in food and nutrition, mental health, science and tech.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io