Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Protocols

Repetitive TMS (rTMS) refers to a train of TMS pulses delivered over a single cortical region. Unlike single or paired pulses, rTMS is capable of inducing long-term effects—either facilitative or suppressive—that outlast the stimulation period. Parameters such as frequency and intertrain interval can influence the direction (facilitation versus suppression) of the effect. rTMS protocols have been developed both to study the brain and as a therapeutic intervention for neurological and psychological disorders. rTMS is considered to be generally safe in healthy individuals, however, adverse side effects have been reported in the literature. In 2009 a safety consensus paper was published which provided guidelines for parameters considered to be safe. The most severe side effect associated with rTMS is the risk of seizure induction, though this is considered rare, less than 0.1 % risk. This chapter aims to summarize the safety and utility of rTMS protocols in healthy and patient populations.
Source: Springer protocols feed by Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: news