Magnetic Fields in Noninvasive Brain Stimulation.

Author: Vidal-Dourado M, Conforto AB, Caboclo LO, Scaff M, Guilhoto LM, Yacubian EM.
Affiliation: 1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Division of Neurology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Conference/Journal: Neuroscientist.
Date published: 2013 Jun 20
Other: Word Count: 145



The idea that magnetic fields could be used therapeutically arose 2000 years ago. These therapeutic possibilities were expanded after the discovery of electromagnetic induction by the Englishman Michael Faraday and the American Joseph Henry. In 1896, Arsène d'Arsonval reported his experience with noninvasive brain magnetic stimulation to the scientific French community. In the second half of the 20th century, changing magnetic fields emerged as a noninvasive tool to study the nervous system and to modulate neural function. In 1985, Barker, Jalinous, and Freeston presented transcranial magnetic stimulation, a relatively focal and painless technique. Transcranial magnetic stimulation has been proposed as a clinical neurophysiology tool and as a potential adjuvant treatment for psychiatric and neurologic conditions. This article aims to contextualize the progress of use of magnetic fields in the history of neuroscience and medical sciences, until 1985.
KEYWORDS:
brain stimulation, magnetic fields, neuroscience, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

PMID: 23787954