Re-establishing the merits of electrical brain stimulation.

Highlights: [•] Direct electrical stimulation (DES) is an invaluable method for neuroscience. [•] Claims that DES is a poorly understood, potentially misleading method are unfounded. [•] DES has specific, causally interpretable effects at well-defined anatomical sites. [•] DES also reduces dramatically postoperative deficits in brain-damaged patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]