Transcranial magnetic stimulation and the human brain.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is rapidly developing as a powerful, non-invasive tool for studying the human brain. A pulsed magnetic field creates current flow in the brain and can temporarily excite or inhibit specific areas. TMS of motor cortex can produce a muscle twitch or block movement; TMS of occipital cortex can produce visual phosphenes or scotomas. TMS can also alter the functioning of the brain beyond the time of stimulation, offering potential for therapy.
Hallett
M
M
Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1428, USA.
D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation