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Transcranial magnetic stimulation and the human brain

Abstract

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.

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Figure 1: TMS mapping of left and right biceps from a 78-year-old subject 11 months after a left upper limb amputation.

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Hallett, M. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and the human brain. Nature 406, 147–150 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35018000

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