Transcranial Magnetic Therapy

It is a noninvasive process used to excite neurons in the brain. Electromagnetic induction induces weak electric currents in the tissues, which leads to excitation of neurons. This method avoids any type of surgery or the use of external electrodes. It has been helpful in a number of disorders such as hallucinations, depression and other psychological disorders. During eighties a number of technical development lead to TMS which was applied in trains of multiple stimuli per second. This gave birth to a new technical term called repetitive TMS. Strength of stimuli, total number of trains, interval between trains and duration of the train of stimulation, all these aspects of repetitive TMS are known as stimulation parameters. This therapy is used to study the minute details about the brain. It studies the organization of the brain. It studies how the brain organizes different languages, vision, memory or attention. It is capable of changing the activity in a given brain area during a fixed interval of time. It can make a brain area work more or less for a fixed time.

HISTORY

Brain stimulation with eddy currents is known since nineteenth century. ANTHONY BARKER had performed the first successful experiment at Sheffield, England. It was used for the demonstration of conduction of nerve impulses from the motor cortex to the spinal cord. Maps of functional areas can be obtained by stimulating different points of cortex and recording responses. It shows the healthiness of the cortex and provides information about area-to-area connection. This technique is also used for the brain mapping of criminals.

TMS IN RESEARCH

The power of demonstrating casualty is the most important aspect of TMS in neuroscience. It is used to see what regions of brain are used to perform the task. Suppressing a particular region of the brain and then noticing the decline in the task performed crosscheck it. An experiment has shown that using frontal lobes can use it to enhance the qualities of a mind. Research has shown that migraines can also be treated by the use of this TMS technique.

HOW TMS AFFECTS THE BRAIN

Two types of effects is created by TMS:

Single or paired pulse TMS- a population of neurons depolarize or discharge an action potential due to the generation of this pulse. These pulses are used to see the behavioral patterns. But the effects of these pulses do not remain after it stops.

Repetitive TMS- it creates the effect that lasts even after the generation of this pulse is stopped. It can increase or decrease the excitability of corticospinal pathways depending on the intensity of stimulation.