Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a relatively new thing – well certainly in respect of it’s heightened profile – and questions are being asked whether this could be the new Electroconvulsive Therapy.
In essence, if I understand it correctly, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation simply is what it says on the tin. ‘Trans’ means across, ‘cranial’ refers to the part of the skull which contain the brain and ‘Magnetic’ and ‘Stimulation’ are self-explanatory.
So (just as it says on the tin so to speak) TMS is simply Magnetic Stimulation across the part of the skull containing the brain.
In the most simplistic of explanations that I can offer magnetic fields are rapidly changed and this in itself creates very small/weak electronic currents which stimulate the nerve cells within the brain without the need for surgery or the use electrodes.
No I am particularly mindful that some of our members have had particularly bad experiences with or resulting from Electroconvulsive Therapy and that the whole idea of any form of electronic currents getting near their brain again is most distressing.
All I can offer in this respect is that the reports are, as far as I can see, that the electronic currents in this case are extremely weak and that it is suggested that this treatment can help with such things as Depression and with Parkinsons.
I am of course NOT advocating the use of this treatment and certainly do not personally know enough about it BUT I do have a suspicion that this treatment will attract (excuse the magnetic pun) more attention over the coming months and am bringing to your attention as something to look out for.
Further information can be found here….
National Centre For Biotechnology Information
Trinkets of Diversions, Inventions and Obsessions
Mental Health Writers' Guild 
Very interesting. At a local hospital to me, they were doing research on it and it was free to do and was for people to which medications hadn’t worked. I would have qualified in all fields but didn’t do it. Maybe I’ll look out for it if they do it again hey,
Hi QB,
IF you do decide to go for it please feel free to let us know how you got on.
Hope you are well.
Kind Regards and God bless you.
Kevin
Will do, thanks Kevin.
Thank you for your blessings.
Thanks, Kevin, for the article and references about TCS. I appreciate your keeping us informed. They have billed TCS as a cure for migraines, too, I believe, which interests me as I suffer from those as well. Since magnetic fields are proving to be what guides birds in migration and fish trolling the seas and are what are at play in “good” altered states of consciousness, like meditation, mystical states and such, I myself would think them far more safe and helpful than ECT or even some medications. But I am certainly no expert!!
Hi Ellen,
Glad to be of help.
Let’s hope we hear much more of this.
Hope you are well.
Kind Regards and God bless you.
Kevin