Stimulating neurons via magnetic fields

[saltydog]

I ran across this article in "Newsweek-Next Frontiers" about stimulating neurons directly by firing large magnetic pulses to specific locations in the brain:

By projecting an electrical charge through the skull, they can now flick neurons on and off without ever breaking the skin . . . The technique, known as transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, uses a $30,000 contraption to fire a powerful magnetic pulse into the cranium, creating an electric charge that activates brain cells.

Address: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9557716/site/newsweek/

Well, I can imagine a much more "accurate" device which can affect individual neurons or "local" populations of neurons. Surely if one could "modulate" the pulses in such a way to simulate the physiological process involved with real neural growth, then indeed I think we would be achieving what the article declared "Re-wiring the brain". Big 'if' though. We really don't even know how physiological processes give rise to mental ones, not exactly anyway. But still, I somewhat suspect this is the beginnings of something . . . wonderful.

 

[jammieg]

Sounds dangerous.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Sounds dangerous.

It could well be. At high frequencies it causes seizures, which means at lower frequencies it probably works by disorganizing neuronal firing as well.

HMI World | Around Harvard
Address:http://hmiworld.org/hmi/current/around_brain.html

It seems in all cases to be temporary if it works at all.

 

[saltydog]

It could well be. At high frequencies it causes seizures, which means at lower frequencies it probably works by disorganizing neuronal firing as well.

HMI World | Around Harvard
Address:http://hmiworld.org/hmi/current/around_brain.html

It seems in all cases to be temporary if it works at all.

Thanks for the ref Zoobyshoe. This is a quote:

Although results are still inconsistent, the news from what now amounts to a large number of controlled studies is getting better. For example, in one study, high-frequency TMS directed at the left prefrontal cortex combined with low-frequency TMS to the right prefrontal cortex improved depression in patients who had not responded to drugs. Researchers have also found TMS helpful as a weekly maintenance treatment for adults with bipolar depression who were taking lithium. And interestingly, high-frequency TMS to the right prefrontal cortex may improve symptoms of bipolar mania.

Yea, I know we're still in the middle-ages with this. You know what the first transistor looked like? We made improvements didnt' we.