Repetitive magnetic stimulation

Magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive method using magnetic energy to modulate the function of nervous system. The stimulation can apply over the brain, spinal cord, nerve roots or peripheral nerve and muscle. Focusing on the stimulation over the brain, namely transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the first report of using this application in humans was published in the Lancet in 1985. Barker succeeded in using TMS for painless recording of motor evoked potential (MEP) from the hand and finger muscles [1]. To date, TMS is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, pain associated with certain migraine headaches and obsessive-compulsive disorder. TMS is also used in many researches for treating neuromuscular conditions including neurogenic bladder.