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.
Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1428, USA.
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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