title: Transcranial magnetic stimulation: the method and application.
abstract: Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a noninvasive method for stimulation of brain that is based on the ability of magnetic field to penetrate skull and brain meninges, subsequently inducing electric current in the brain tissues that produces neuronal depolarization and generation of action potentials. Moreover, transcranial magnetic stimulation has effects on neurochemical and synaptic processes in neurons. Due to its easy use and relatively fair side effects, nowadays, transcranial magnetic stimulation is widely used in neurosciences and medicine. The main areas of transcranial magnetic stimulation application are: 1) the investigation of cortical and spinal excitability, 2) the investigation of neuronal plasticity, 3) the investigation of neuronal connectivity, 4) functional mapping, and 5) the treatment of some neurological and psychiatric disorders. Transcranial magnetic stimulation alone or in combination with other noninvasive neuroimaging (PET--positron emission topography, MRI--magnetic resonance imaging) and neurofunctional (EEG--electroencephalography, ERP--event-related potentials, fMRI--functional magnetic resonance imaging) methods allows conducting research on brain functions. Thus, transcranial magnetic stimulation is suitable as a diagnostic tool in neurologic and neuropsychiatric brain research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Vilnius University, M. K. Ciurlionio 21, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania. inga.griskova@gf.vu.lt
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Griskova
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Höppner
authors.forename: Osvaldas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ruksenas
authors.forename: Kastytis
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dapsys
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism; D012106:Research; D012449:Safety; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter