Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Can Magnets Cure Depression?

By Clare Wilson / Source: New Scientist

Anyone who remembers high-school physics knows that a fluctuating magnetic field can induce an electrical current. That's the principle behind transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), where an electromagnet is held over the head and pulsed rapidly. Depending on the frequency of the pulses, this can either enhance or suppress activity in neurons a few centimetres under the skull.

TMS is seen as one of the safer forms of brain stimulation, as it requires no surgery. Yet it is not completely risk free: some people experience pain in the scalp, headaches or facial spasms. More concerning were the 10 cases of seizures triggered by TMS in the first few years of its use.

Fortunately these became very rare once those administering TMS learned to limit the intensity and frequency of the stimulation and give patients regular breaks in treatment. TMS was leapt on as the perfect research tool.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE...

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