Transcranial magnetic stimulation: A brief conspectus and area of therapeutic application

초록

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method for changing the neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex, using electric currents induced by external magnetic fields. Theoretically, repetitive TMS (rTMS) can make changes in neuronal excitability in anatomically targeted brain regions by adjusting the practical parameters, and likely has a long-term neuromodulation effect beyond the treatment period. Based on these characteristics, TMS has the potential to be a designed treatment tool in various fields associated with neurology and psychiatry, but more evidence on its therapeutic efficacy should be collected from the clinical trials, and further investigation for methodological optimization to maximize its therapeutic effect is also necessary. This review is composed of three sections. The first part of the review mainly focuses on a brief introduction of TMS: general characteristics, basic mechanisms of action and the effects on the brain, including immediate and long-term effects. The second part covers the terms and the methodological issues - definition of terms, standard procedure - and also focuses on the safety issues and existing safety guidelines for researchers and clinicians. The third part reviews the clinical conditions in which TMS can be applied for therapeutic purposes. © 2013 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.