Art-104

TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION (TMS)
By Peter Rose FSI

There have been a lot of questions about the use of Magnetic Therapy to stimulate brain activity and to do this for specific purposes.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is being researched and expensive equipment being produced. There are hundreds of web pages devoted to this subject but what should we “make” of it all? Is it the wonder of the twenty first century or simply another tool in the health care armoury?

I have no personal involvement or experience, of using electromagnetic devices on the human brain. I did some work with the guy who developed a small pulsed electromagnetic device that was worn around the neck and my early engineering was in electromagnetic machines—motors generators etc. and my health care work, spread over more years and involving more study, than I care to recall, has mostly involved the use of permanent magnets.

 From what I have seen, some of these TMS   stimulators are “non specific” in that they cover all the brain and skull with electromagnetic stimulation. They do not specifically aim at say the Thalamus of the Pituitary glands. This may have great benefit if general stimulation is required. The principle is that electromagnetic energy “wakes up” sluggish receptors and transmitters within the brain and so stimulates activity.( rTMS is when this process of stimulation is repeated many times) Some devices do seem to have the ability to be “aimed” but the energy field will radiate and is not very tightly focused, others are designed to stimulate the entire brain structure. The department of experimental psychology at University of Oxford —particularly Vincent Walsh and Matthew Rushworth – have done a large amount of experimental work with TMS particularly with regard to cognitive neuropsychological.

Single pulse TMS delivers a single stimulation to the target area, often in conjunction with the participant performing a cognitive task  Repetitive TMS (rTMS) involves the repeated stimulation of an area using a train of pulses.

Much of the work on TMS is designed to interrupt the brain function for short periods of time while most of those of us involved in magnetic healing will be interested in stimulation.

There are specific point on the head that physical therapists—Massage, acupuncture, cranial-sacral osteopathy etc – have used to help with specific health care issues. Occipital points; together with others on upper back, for Migraines etc. There are points around eyes for sinus problems there are points on the forehead and on the side of the skull (collectively these are generally known as Cranial Reflex Points) for helping with emotional problems. Etc. Permanent magnets- in jewellery bandages of spot magnets can be used with very good effect on these pints—although stuck on spot magnets over hair does have practical difficulties.

There is an on going debate about the effectiveness and ethics of various Electro magnetic pulse devices which are designed to be used on the human brain. fMRI—functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging – being suggested as reading the “thoughts” of a person to say if telling truth etc.

The use of feedback equipment to boost brain power, the use of  TMS to knock out part of a brain, the use of equipment to allow the brain to direct other equipment and feed thoughts direct into weapon system guidance, computers etc. The debate goes on. As with all things there is an opportunity for benefit and a possibility of misuse. Watch this space.

Peter Rose FSI
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See Also.... MAGNETIC THERAPY PRACTITIONER CERTIFIED TRAINING COURSE

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