The brain is one of the most fascinating organs of the body, which delicately controls the thoughts and activities of Man from moment to moment. While much information has been accumulated over the years as to its anatomical and physiological functions, little research has been devoted to determine the effects of electrical fields upon this organ. Therefore, a group of interested researchers formed the Neuro-Electric Society to provide a forum for studying the effects of electrical currents upon the related nuerophysio logical determinates. ~luch of this research has been directed to wards the production of sleep or a state of anesthesia by trans cranially applied electrical currents. The Neuro-Electric Society is a national society which holds annual conferences, bringing together a wide variety of scientists with skills in various fields such as anesthesiology,biomathematics, biomedical engineering, neuro-anatomy, neurology, neurophysiology, neurosurgery, pharmacology, psychiatry and psychology. Subsequent to a number of meetings of various interested groups, the first annual meeting of the Neuro-Electric Society was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in October 1967, and the second in San Francisco, California in February 1969. The third conference is to be held at Las Vegas, Nevada, March 23-25, 1970.

Drs. Groopman and Hartzband reveal a clear path for making the right medical choices. Such factors as authority figures, statistics, other patients' stories, technology, and natural healing are key factors that shape choices.

Based on advances in biotechnology and neuroscience, non-invasive neuromodulation devices are poised to gain clinical importance in the coming years and to be of increasing interest to patients, clinicians,health systems, payers, and industry. Evidence suggests that both therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications of non-invasive neuromodulation will continue to expand in coming years, particularly for indications where treatments are currently insufficient, such as drug-resistant depression. Given the growing interest in non-invasive neuromodulation technologies, the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders convened a workshop, inviting a range of stakeholders - including developers of devices and new technologies, researchers, clinicians, ethicists, regulators, and payers - to explore the opportunities, challenges, and ethical questions surrounding the development, regulation, and reimbursement of these devices for the treatment of nervous system disorders as well as for non-therapeutic uses, including cognitive and functional enhancement. This report highlights the presentation and discussion of the workshop.

Like all cellular organisms humans run on electricity. Cells work like batteries: slight imbalances of electric charge across cell membranes, caused by ions moving in and out of cells, result in sensation, movement, awareness, and thinking—the things we associate with being alive. Robert Campenot offers an accessible overview of animal electricity.