Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was developed approximately 30 years ago by Anthony Barker. TMS has been applied as both a method to evaluate several neurophysiological processes and as a treatment for resistant psychiatric and neurological disorders. As a treatment, repetitive TMS (rTMS) has extensive evidence for efficacy in mood disorders through the modulation of cortical excitability, inhibition and plasticity. In recent years, several studies have also explored the utility of rTMS as a treatment tool in schizophrenia with promising results.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common developmental disorder that is associated with environmental and genetic factors. Neurobiological evidence suggests that fronto-striatum-cerebellum circuit abnormalities, mainly in the right hemisphere, are responsible for most of the disturbed sensorimotor integration; dopamine seems to be the main neurochemical alteration underlying these morphological abnormalities.

NeuroStar transcranial magnetic stimulation showed efficacy as mono-therapy for treatment of postpartum-onset major depressive disorder in women, according to data presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.

An astounding 5-6% of people who began using cocaine 24 hours ago will become long-term users, according to a paper in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. Addiction varies with each person’s individual brain chemistry, but the presence of dopamine in the brain is a highly rewarding feeling that most people will work to replicate.

Brain stimulation has been in use for decades as a potential treatment for psychiatric disorders. However, its use in addiction is relatively new. Promising clinical and preclinical data suggest it could have some positive effects, although to be effective the type of stimulation and the brain areas to be targeted have to be more deeply explored.

The naysayers told John Elder Robison, “You must be nuts! I would never do that, that’s crazy.”

That was the reaction, among some, to his participation in experimental brain therapy called TMS or transcranial magnetic stimulation. But after decades of feeling like a social misfit — misreading or missing other people’s emotions due to Asperger’s syndrome, diagnosed at age 40 — he was suddenly able to sense others’ feelings.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is known to be a safe, noninvasive, treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), but how does cost compare with that of pharmacotherapy?.

A recent interview from NPR shows how one man’s life changed for better and worse after undergoing TMS for Autism. It brings to light how TMS saves lives and isn’t only for people suffering depression.