The Science of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method for stimulating neural tissue based on the principles of electromagnetic induction. The technique is becoming an established treatment for drug-resistant major depressive disorder and is a promising tool for a variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Stimulation is achieved by pulsed magnetic fields inducing electric fields with the necessary characteristics to depolarize neurons, generating action potentials. In this article, the underlying principles and mechanisms of TMS are explored and an overview of the development of stimulator devices is provided. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2014; 44(6):279–283.]