Transcranial magnetic stimulation

From Psy3241

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a form of controlling brain activity using a magnetic current. An electrical current is passed through a magnetic coil, the shape of which determines the strength and size of the magnetic field. The coil is held above the scalp, not touching the skin. No contact with the head is necessary for TMS. Small magnetic fields emitted from the coil into the brain can make brain areas either more active or less active.

TMS can temporarily influence movement, speech, reaction time, memory, visual perception, and mood. The effect of TMS usually wears off a few minutes after magnetic stimulation has ceased.

TMS is often used to establish causal roles of distinct areas by, for example, showing that performance in a task that draws on a specific brain area is impaired following TMS to that area.

Another form of transcranial magnetic stimulation is repetetive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). rTMS, in contrast to TMS, produces longer-lasting effects on the target area of the brain. It is often used for treatment of neurological disorders such as depression, Parkinson's disease, and auditory hallucinations, as well as simple headaches and migraines.