Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive neurostimulation technique in which a changing magnetic field is used to induce an electric current in a targeted area of the brain through electromagnetic induction. A device called a stimulator generates electric pulses that are delivered to a magnetic coil placed against the scalp. The resulting magnetic field penetrates the skull and induces a secondary electric current in the underlying brain tissue, modulating neural activity.

Medical devices delivering repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) apppear to provide reasonably safe and effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), chronic pain, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Adverse effects of TMS appear rare and include fainting and seizure, which occur in roughly 0.1% of patients and are usually attributable to administration error.