Solving the Orientation Specific Constraints in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation by Rotating Fields

摘要: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a promising technology for both neurology and psychiatry. Positive treatment outcome has been reported, instance in double blind, multi-center studies on depression. Nonetheless, the application of TMS towards studying treating brain disorders still limited by inter-subject variability lack model systems accessible to TMS. The latter are required obtain deeper understanding biophysical foundations so that stimulus protocol can be optimized maximal response, while hinders precise reliable delivery stimuli across subjects. Recent showed these limitations part due angular sensitivity Thus, technique would eradicate need orientation coil improve reliability its effectiveness systems. We show here how rotation stimulating field relieves provides improvements issues. Field attained superposing fields two coils positioned orthogonal each other operated with relative phase shift time. Rotating (rfTMS) efficiently stimulates cultured hippocampal networks rat motor cortex, neuronal notoriously difficult excite magnetically. This opens possibility pharmacological invasive experiments Application rfTMS human subjects overcomes dependence standard yields optimal targeting regions where correct cannot determined (e.g., via feedback) will enable stimulation preferred axonal does not exist.