Most Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation devices providers find that TMS has a success rate at between 70% or 80%, meaning that the vast majority of individuals find significant relief after treatment. About 50% of people who buy a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Device experience complete remission, meaning that the symptoms of depression are absent after just one course of treatment.
To understand how successful Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy is, it’s important to understand just how successful medication is.
What is TMS therapy?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation or simply known as TMS, is a type of brain stimulation therapy.
It’s a noninvasive treatment that uses electromagnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells, which may improve symptoms of neurological or mental health disorders.
It is mainly used to treat depression. It has had success helping people who do not respond to antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. In fact, in 2008 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the therapy for this purpose.
There is also some evidence that TMS may help other disorders, like anxiety and Parkinson’s disease.
Since Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation uses repetitive electrical impulses, it’s sometimes called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The terms are often used interchangeably.
What is the science behind Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?
TMS is simply a neuromodulatory technique that applies magnetic pulses to the brain via an electric ‘coil.’ An electric current is delivered to the coil, which then acts as the magnetic field generator in the procedure. The generated magnetic field in turn induces an electrical current in the brain.
Different coil types are used to invoke different magnetic field patterns, and using more focal points can elicit a deeper magnetic field to stimulate deeper cortical layers. The Stimulation is applied at a sufficient intensity to trigger action potentials in proximate neurons. For example, TMS over the motor cortex can lead to a finger twitch. Applying several pulses of TMS in a row is also called repetitive TMS or “rTMS.” The timing and variation of the pulses can determine how the brain changes in response. rTMS can sometimes disrupt how a brain region is working, leading to a phase called a “functional lesion.” This selective interference gives it credence in therapies aiming to modulate the relative excitability of a brain region. In addition to this, when combined with other neuroimaging techniques, TMS can be used to map behavior-related circuitry with spatial and temporal precision. rTMS can lead to lasting changes in brain function which is why it is used for treatment. Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are the implicated cellular mechanisms behind rTMS. Some areas of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is currently being explored include stroke rehabilitation, Parkinson's, depression, migraine, pain management, and auditory hallucination.
How does a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Device work?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a medical device that applies electrical pulses to the brain using a magnetic coil held over the head. An electric current is delivered to the coil by a stimulator unit, and the current flowering through loops in the coil generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field travels through the head (skull) to the brain where it produces an electrical stimulation of the brain. A specific pattern or waveform of the current is applied to the coil which is replicated in the brain. The right pattern can change brain function and be used to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as depression.
There is a lot of current created by the stimulator into the coil, leading to a significant amount of electricity being produced in the brain. The coil produced by the stimulator does not directly go into the patient, it only goes into the coil. The electricity produced in a person's head is a lot less than that in the coil and is transmitted through the skull to the brain through a magnetic field. Hence it is called “transcranial magnetic stimulation".
What does a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation device look like?
A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation device is the size of a mini-fridge and has a power cable. It has various controls on it to adjust stimulation parameters such as pulse intensity, number of pulses, and pulse frequency. The coil looks like one or more loops. For instance, a “figure-8 coil” is two touching loops. A cable connects the coil to the stimulator. The coil is held over the head (the part to be stimulated) by the hand of the operator, or by a mechanical arm.
During the TMS procedure, the subject sits in a comfortable chair, usually with a headrest. A doctor or medical technician will position the coil over the subject’s head and program the right pulse waveform into the device. The sensation isn’t typically painful and can feel like tapping on the head or little tingly shocks or muscle twitches. The sensation goes away as soon as the TMS is stopped.
To know more about buying Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Device, and how they work, visit us at Almagia.