Brain Manipulation

Technology Review (MIT) has an interesting article entitled "A Gentler Way to Jump-Start the Brain" about the new deep transcranial magnetic stimulation technology by the company Brainsway. They give a good overview of how of this new technology works.

"Instead of a single coil generating a single magnetic field through the brain, Zangen has outfitted a helmet with a number of small coils, each producing a separate magnetic field. As researchers run a standard current through the helmet, the coils, which are connected in a series, produce multiple fields that add up, generating a much stronger magnetic field that goes deeper into the brain before dropping off."

According to the article, it appears that the technology will be approved in Europe fairly soon while the US will have to wait a while longer.

In other news, the Telegraph has a very interesting article and a short video about deactivating brain regions associated with speech using TMS entitled "How a magnet turned off my speech".

"Words failed me. I stuttered as Prof Vincent Walsh turned off the speech centre of my brain for a few thousandths of a second to demonstrate the power of transcranial magnetic stimulation, a popular way to interfere with the most complex known object in the universe."

That site also has another good article about using direct current brain stimulation to prevent migraines (DIY brain therapy could halt migraines)

"These new brain stimulators, called DC machines, introduce very weak electrical currents. But like TMS, DC also has the same effect of changing the "excitability" of brain cells, either damping down their reactivity or boosting it, which can change the way that the brain responds."