By Mayo Clinic staff

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is the least invasive of the brain-stimulation procedures used for depression. Unlike vagus nerve stimulation or deep brain stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation doesn't require surgery or implantation of electrodes. And, unlike electroconvulsive therapy, it doesn't require seizures or complete sedation with anesthesia. However, transcranial magnetic stimulation does have some risks and can cause some side effects.

Common side effects
Transcranial magnetic stimulation often causes minor short-term side effects. These side effects are generally mild and typically improve after the first week or two of treatment. They can include: ...Click Here to Read More...

Posted by Jay Roberts at 03:08 AM | Permalink

By Mayo Clinic staff

Depression is a treatable condition, but sometimes standard treatments aren't effective. Transcranial magnetic stimulation may be used when standard treatments such as medications and psychotherapy don't work. However, more research is needed to determine how well it works to relieve depression symptoms and in whom it may be most effective.

How it works
How transcranial magnetic stimulation may help relieve depression is not completely understood. During transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic pulses create painless electrical currents in your brain. These currents stimulate nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood control and depression. It's thought that stimulating the brain changes how the brain works, leading to improved mood.

Posted by Jay Roberts at 03:06 AM | Permalink

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. Transcranial magnetic stimulation may be tried when other depression treatments haven't worked.

With transcranial magnetic stimulation, a large electromagnetic coil is placed against your scalp near your forehead. The electromagnet used in transcranial magnetic stimulation creates painless electric currents that stimulate nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood control and depression. Because transcranial magnetic stimulation is a relatively new depression treatment, more studies are needed to determine how effective it is, which treatment techniques work best and whether it has any long-term side effects.

Posted by Jay Roberts at 03:05 AM | Permalink

By Claire Trottier and Behzad Elahi

Alternative medicine is gaining popularity in Canada, especially for the treatment of chronic conditions.  Many treatment modalities are endorsed by practitioners of alternative medicine: from nutritional supplements, to acupuncture, to magnetic bracelets. It is important to examine scientifically if these treatments works, and in so doing, we can see how skeptics examine the claims of alternative medicine.

For a skeptic, it is important to constantly remain open to new ideas; being skeptical does not mean dismissing ideas outright.  Skepticism means carefully investigating...Click Here to Read More...

Posted by Jay Roberts at 02:54 AM | Permalink

PARIS (AFP) – A neutron star with a mighty magnetic field has thrown down the gauntlet to theories about stellar evolution and the birth of black holes, astronomers reported on Wednesday.

The "magnetar" lies in a cluster of stars known as Westerlund 1, located 16,000 light years away in the constellation of Ara, the Altar.

Westerlund 1, discovered in 1961 by a Swedish astronomer, is a favoured observation site in stellar physics.... Click Here to Read On

Posted by Jay Roberts at 01:58 PM | Permalink