tDCS, CES, taVNS, tPBM and neurofeedback: the complete guide to brain wellness technologies
Five technologies, five abbreviations. If they've seemed complicated, this guide explains them one by one, simply: what they are, how they are applied, what you feel, what research studies about them and why at NeuroFit you don't choose a device, you choose a state.
Why "non-invasive" matters
All the technologies used at NeuroFit are non-invasive. This means nothing enters the body: there are no needles, injections, medicines or procedures. We work with light, with very weak microcurrents applied to the surface of the skin and with sensors that only read the brain's activity.
Non-invasive doesn't mean right for everyone, though. That's why every experience starts with a safety screening, which we cover at the end of this guide.
tPBM: transcranial photobiomodulation
What it is: light from the near-infrared spectrum, applied to the forehead and scalp through a device placed on the head.
How it works: certain wavelengths of near-infrared light can pass through skin and bone and are absorbed by an enzyme in the mitochondria, the part of the cell that produces energy. Research has investigated the effects on neuronal energy metabolism, cerebral blood flow, attention and memory.
What you feel: there is no current. At most a gentle warmth and the warm light.
Where we use it: in Focus, Reset and Longevity. It is one of the most studied NeuroFit technologies in the context of healthy ageing.
Neurofeedback (NeurOptimal®)
What it is: sensors placed on the scalp and ears read the brain's electrical activity (EEG) and turn it into feedback, through micro-pauses in the music in your headphones.
How it works: the brain receives real-time information about its own activity and uses it to self-regulate. The NeurOptimal® system has no predefined target and doesn't require conscious effort.
What you feel: you listen to music. You don't have to do anything.
Where we use it: in Focus, Relax and Longevity.
taVNS: vagus nerve stimulation through the ear
What it is: very weak electrical impulses, delivered through a small electrode worn in the ear, to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.
How it works: the vagus nerve is one of the main pathways through which the body shifts from stress mode into rest and recovery mode. Its gentle stimulation is studied for relaxation, for heart rate variability (an indicator of nervous system balance) and for recovery.
What you feel: a fine tingling in the ear.
Where we use it: in Relax, Reset and Longevity.
CES: cranial electrotherapy stimulation
What it is: an alternating microcurrent, below one milliampere, applied through clips on the earlobes.
How it works: it is one of the oldest non-invasive neuromodulation technologies studied for relaxation, stress and sleep quality. Research has investigated its effects on relaxation and on brain activity associated with calm.
What you feel: the intensity is so low that many people feel nothing.
Where we use it: in Relax and Reset.
tDCS: transcranial direct current stimulation
What it is: a very weak constant current, usually 1–2 mA, applied through two electrodes with damp sponges on the scalp, usually on the frontal area.
How it works: the current doesn't "fire" neurons. It slightly changes their activation threshold, making them a little more or a little less ready to respond. It is studied for attention and working memory. Research results are mixed: the effects depend on the protocol, the area stimulated and the person.
What you feel: a slight tingling or itching at first, which usually fades within a few minutes.
Where we use it: in Focus.
In short: the five technologies compared
- tPBM: near-infrared light · no sensations · cellular energy, attention, memory
- Neurofeedback: sensors that read EEG · you listen to music · self-regulation
- taVNS: impulses in the ear · fine tingling · relaxation, nervous system balance
- CES: microcurrent on the earlobes · usually nothing · relaxation, sleep, stress
- tDCS: weak direct current on the scalp · tingling at first · attention, working memory
Why we combine them
At NeuroFit you don't choose a device, you choose a state. Each experience has its own circuit, built around its goal:
- Focus (concentration and clarity): tPBM, neurofeedback, tDCS
- Relax (calm and switching off): CES, taVNS, neurofeedback
- Reset (recovery after demanding periods): taVNS, tPBM, CES
- Longevity (long-term brain wellness): tPBM, neurofeedback, taVNS
The logic is simple: each technology acts on a different mechanism (energy, self-regulation, the autonomic nervous system, excitability), and their combination creates a complete experience, not a single intervention. You focus on what you want to feel. The team builds the circuit.
The experience is the product. The technology stays in the background.
What research honestly says
All these technologies are studied in research, some for decades. The results are promising in certain contexts and modest in others, and the quality of studies varies. On our research page we have gathered five studies for each technology, with editorial explanations.
The rule we follow is simple: studied doesn't mean guaranteed. At NeuroFit, the technologies are part of a brain wellness experience, not a medical treatment, and we don't promise results.
Safety before technology
Not every technology is right for everyone. Before the first session we carry out a safety screening, which may lead to adapting the experience or excluding a technology. Among other things, we check for:
- implanted medical or electronic devices (pacemaker, neurostimulator, cochlear implant);
- relevant metal implants or materials;
- epilepsy or seizures;
- neurosurgical procedures or significant head injuries;
- relevant neurological or cardiovascular conditions;
- pregnancy;
- skin problems in the stimulation area;
- relevant medication.
If something doesn't feel right during the session, it stops.
How a circuit is built, in practice
Let's take an example. Ana is 38, leads a team and has weeks full of meetings. She comes for her first experience and says she wants more clarity on busy days. The team suggests Focus.
At the screening, Ana says she has no implanted devices, no history of epilepsy and is not pregnant. The Focus circuit can therefore include tPBM, neurofeedback and tDCS. If one of her answers had been different, for example a metal implant in the head area, tDCS might have been excluded and the experience adapted with the other technologies.
A few weeks later, after an intense period, Ana chooses a Reset session. The circuit changes: taVNS, tPBM and CES. The experience is different because the goal is different.
Questions to ask any brain wellness centre
Wherever you choose to go, a few questions help you make an informed choice:
- Do you carry out a safety screening before the first session?
- Which technologies and which devices do you use?
- Who coordinates the experiences and how is the team trained?
- What does research say about these technologies, honestly, not just promotionally?
- Do you promise guaranteed results? (A yes is a warning sign.)
- What happens if something doesn't feel right during the session?
Myths about electrical stimulation
"It's like electroshock"
No. The currents used in tDCS, CES and taVNS are very weak, in the milliampere range or lower, and are applied to the surface of the skin at comfortable intensities. They don't cause muscle contractions and have nothing to do with electroconvulsive medical procedures.
"More current means better results"
No. Each technology has studied parameters and safety limits. Higher intensity doesn't mean a better effect, and the devices are used within their conditions of use.
Frequently asked questions
Are brain wellness technologies safe?
The technologies used at NeuroFit are non-invasive and are applied after a safety screening, within the conditions of use of each device. Some situations, such as implanted devices, epilepsy or pregnancy, may lead to a technology being excluded.
What is the difference between tDCS and CES?
tDCS uses a very weak direct current, applied to the scalp, usually on the frontal area, and is studied for attention. CES uses an alternating microcurrent applied to the earlobes and is studied for relaxation and sleep.
Can I choose the technology myself?
At NeuroFit you choose the experience, meaning the state you want to build. The circuit of technologies is set by the team, according to the experience and the safety screening.
Will I feel anything during the session?
Generally very little: gentle warmth with tPBM, a fine tingling with taVNS or at the start of tDCS. Many people feel nothing with CES. With neurofeedback you just listen to music.
Brain wellness information. It is not medical advice and does not replace specialist assessment, diagnosis or treatment.