Can you explain the method of transcranial magnetic stimulation in treating depression?

RTMS: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rtms) is a brain stimulation treatment that targets a specific spot in the brain. Scientists believe that this specificity may provide an advantage over ECT (which is effective but has mild side effects). A typical rtms session lasts 30 to 60 minutes and does not require anesthesia. Short electromagnetic pulses do the work.

Brain Connectivity: Think of the brain consisting of an inner core where our most basic emotions and impulses lie and an outer layer consisting of rational thought that can modulate emotion.These layers are connected.Rtms stimulates the outer layer which is most directly connected with the inner core associated w/ depressed mood.Tms can stimulate to enhance mood or inhibit to reduce depressed mood via the connection.

TMS Experience: A magnet the shape of the cup of your hand is gently placed on the scalp near the temple area, overlying the frontal lobe of the brain. Short 4 second pulses, with 26 second rest intervals , are applied. This happens for about 40 minutes, 5 days a week for a number of weeks. Pulses sound like a loud typewriter, and while they initially may cause discomfort, most patients acclimate quickly.

Dual mechanism: It is thought that tms has both "local" and "distal" (or distance) effects. Local effects result in the release of neurotransmitters from neurons close to the brain's surface right under the tms treatment coil. There are also so-called "pyramidal cells" there, with axons that project to deep brain nuclei. Stimulating these triggers release of neurotransmitters from these nuclei.

Several Mechanisms: There are a variety of areas in the brain that are affected during depression. It is evident through decreased activity smaller volume and abnormal oscillations. What tms does is directly connect with these networks of neurons and activate them electrically causing them to normalize. Doing this on a daily basis normalizes their activity. http://advancedmentalhealth.com/tms.