• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2021

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe and noninvasive tool for investigating the cortical excitability of the human brain and the neurophysiological functions of GABAergic, glutamatergic, and cholinergic neural circuits. Neurophysiological biomarkers based on TMS parameters can provide information on the pathophysiology of dementia, and be used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease and differentiate different types of dementia. This review introduces the basic principles of TMS, TMS devices and stimulating paradigms, several neurophysiological measurements, and the clinical implications of TMS for Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.119-132
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• 2018

Despite the fact that pharmacotherapy depressive disorders have proven efficacy, a substantial number of patients are resistant to conventional management. As neuroscientific research about pathophysiology of depression have accumulated, repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have emerged as an important mechanism-based treatment modality. This overview provides a review of therapeutic application of rTMS and tDCS in patients with depression. The clinical and basic studies of rTMS and tDCS in depression were reviewed and integrated using a literature review and interview with experts. rTMS is a noninvasive procedure of a localized pulsed magnetic field to the surface of the head to cause a depolarization of neurons in the brain cortex. tDCS has a mechanism of modulating cortical excitability in a polarity-specific manner without eliciting action potentials. rTMS and tDCS seem promising for treating depression. Although therapeutic parameters and further technical improvement remain to be systematically investigated, rTMS and tDCS would be a safe and effective intervention to treat depression.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.89-101
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• 2016

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe, noninvasive and useful technique for exploring brain function. Especially, for the study of cognition, the technique can modulate a cognitive performance if the targeted area is engaged, because TMS has an effect on cortical network. The effect of TMS can vary depending on the frequency, intensity, and timing of stimulation. In this paper, we review the studies with TMS targeting various regions for evaluation of cognitive function. Cognitive functions, such as attention, working memory, semantic decision, discrimination and social cognition can be improved or deteriorated according to TMS stimulation protocols. Furthermore, potential therapeutic applications of TMS, including therapy in a variety of illness and research into cortical localization, are discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.285-289
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• 2014

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive and safe technique for motor cortex stimulation. TMS is used to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders, including mood and movement disorders. TMS can also treat several types of chronic neuropathic pain. The pain relief mechanism of cortical stimulation is caused by modifications in neuronal excitability. Depression is a common co-morbidity with chronic pain. Pain and depression should be treated concurrently to achieve a positive outcome. Insomnia also frequently occurs with chronic lower back pain. Several studies have proposed hypotheses for TMS pain management. Herein, we report two cases with positive results for the treatment of depression and insomnia with chronic low back pain by TMS.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2022

Noninvasive stimulation of the nervous system for treating chronic neuropathic pain has received attention because of its tolerability and relative efficacy. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a representative method of noninvasive brain stimulation. Evidence-based guidelines on therapeutic use of rTMS have been proposed recently for several neurological diseases. These guidelines recommend treating neuropathic pain by applying high-frequency (≥ 5 Hz) rTMS to the primary motor cortex contralateral to the painful side. This review summarizes the mechanisms and guidelines of rTMS for treating neuropathic pain, and proposes directions for future research.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.482-485
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• 2016

In this work, a transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) experiment on animals is performed to stimulate the brain cortex of the mouse using modulated signals. The proposed TMS system is composed of the inverter, transformer, capacitor, variable inductor, and stimulation coil to generate 1.5 mT magnetic field in the brain cortex of the mouse. The stimulation signal is modulated to square wave where the carrier frequency is swept from 85 to 91 kHz to investigate the stimulation effect. The experimental result shows that when the carrier frequency of the stimulation signal is lower than 89 kHz, the reaction of the mouse does not change while the stimulation signal which has the carrier frequency higher than 89 kHz results in decreasing the threshold of the stimulus for the pressure.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.9-15
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• 2010

In this study, we have been proposed the new type of a transcranial magnetic stimulation adopted a variable voltage capacitor with Cockcroft-Walton circuit and constant-frequency current resonant half-bridge inverter. This a transcranial magnetic stimulation has some merits compared with the conventional one. First, it doesn't require the high voltage transformer. And second, it has less switching losses, compact size and capability in adjusting the transcranial magnetic stimulation output energy precisely. In this paper, we have performed the output characteristics of a transcranial magnetic stimulation system which is well known as magnetic stimulation. The tested results are described as a function of pulse repetition rate and switching numbers of the half-bridge inverter.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive tool used to study aspects of human brain physiology, including motor function and the pathophysiology of various brain disorders. A brief electric current passed through a magnetic coil produces a high-intensity magnetic field, which can excite or inhibit the cerebral cortex. Although various brain regions can be evaluated by TMS, most studies have focused on the motor cortex where motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are produced. Single-pulse and paired-pulse TMS can be used to measure the excitability of the motor cortex via various parameters, while repetitive TMS induces cortical plasticity via long-term potentiation or long-term depression-like mechanisms. Therefore, TMS is useful in the evaluation of physiological mechanisms of various neurological diseases, including movement disorders and epilepsy. In addition, it has diagnostic utility in spinal cord diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and demyelinating diseases. The therapeutic effects of repetitive TMS on stroke, Parkinson disease and focal hand dystonia are limited since the duration and clinical benefits seem to be temporary. New TMS techniques, which may improve clinical utility, are being developed to enhance clinical utilities in various neurological diseases.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.129-132
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• 2015

The aim of the present study was to examine whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve gait ability of acute stage stroke patients. This study was conducted with 39 subjects who were diagnosed as having a hemiparesis due to stroke. The experimental group included 20 subjects who underwent repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and the control group included 19 subjects who underwent sham therapy. The stroke patients in the experimental group underwent conventional rehabilitation therapy and rTMS was applied daily to the hotspot of the lesional hemisphere. The stroke patients in the control group underwent sham rTMS and conventional rehabilitation therapy. Participants in both groups received therapy five days per week for four weeks. Temporospatial gait characteristics, such as stance phase, swing phase, step length in affected side, velocity, and cadence, were assessed before and after the four week therapy period. A significant difference was observed in post-treatment gains for the step length in the affected side, velocity, and cadence between the experimental group and control group ( p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups on stance phase and swing phase ( p > 0.05). We conclude that rTMS may be beneficial in improving the effects of acute stage stroke on gait ability.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.53-69
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• 2021

Sleep disorders, increasingly prevalent in the general population, induce impairment in daytime functioning and other clinical problems. As changes in cortical excitability have been reported as potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying sleep disorders, multiple studies have explored clinical effects of modulating cortical excitability through non-invasive brain stimulation in treating sleep disorders. In this study, we critically reviewed clinical studies using non-invasive brain stimulation, particularly transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), for treatment of sleep disorders. Previous studies have reported inconsistent therapeutic effects of TMS and tDCS for various kinds of sleep disorders. Specifically, low-frequency repetitive TMS (rTMS) and cathodal tDCS, both of which exert an inhibitory effect on cortical excitability, have shown inconsistent therapeutic effects for insomnia. On the other hand, high-frequency rTMS and anodal tDCS, both of which facilitate cortical excitability, have improved the symptoms of hypersomnia. In studies of restless legs syndrome, high-frequency rTMS and anodal tDCS induced inconsistent therapeutic effects. Single TMS and rTMS have shown differential therapeutic effects for obstructive sleep apnea. These inconsistent findings indicate that the distinctive characteristics of each non-invasive brain stimulation method and specific pathophysiological mechanisms underlying particular sleep disorders should be considered in an integrated manner for treatment of various sleep disorders. Future studies are needed to provide optimized TMS and tDCS protocols for each sleep disorder, considering distinctive effects of non-invasive brain stimulation and pathophysiology of each sleep disorder.