Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Depression. Protocols, Mechanisms, and New Developments

Desirée A. Spronk, Martijn Arns, Paul B. Fitzgerald

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

Abstract

This chapter examines the TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation), which is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique. It has a very direct influence on brain physiology. The basic principle of TMS is the application of short magnetic pulses over the scalp of a subject with the aim of inducing electrical currents in the neurons of the cortex. A typical TMS device consists of a stimulator that can generate a strong electrical current, and a coil in which the fluctuating electrical current generates magnetic pulses. If the magnetic pulses are delivered in the proximity of a conductive medium, e.g. the brain, a secondary current in the conductive material is induced. In the practice of TMS, a subject is seated in a chair and an operator positions the coil above the scalp of the subject, tunes the stimulation parameters of the stimulator, and applies the TMS pulses.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNeurofeedback and Neuromodulation Techniques and Applications
Place of PublicationUnited States
PublisherElsevier Science
Pages257-291
Number of pages35
ISBN (Print)9780123822352
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2011
Externally publishedYes

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