AIM

One day workshop will provide hands-on-training to young investigators and students on working principle and application of transcranial magnetic stimulation in humans and animals.

 

Introduction
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has received lot of attention from researchers, and clinicians especially in the field of psychiatry, neurological disorders, pain and neurophysiology for the last two decades. Unlike other brain stimulation techniques, for e.g. electroconvulsive therapy and direct current stimulation, TMS is shown to be non-invasive, safe and effective. The principle of TMS is based on Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. According to this law, when time-varying current is passed through a closed circuit, a fluctuating magnetic field is created which is able to induce eddy currents in conductors present in the vicinity. The brain may be considered as one such conductor, wherein, rapidly changing magnetic field pulses are applied via placing a coil connected to a magnetic stimulator over the scalp. These brief pulsed magnetic fields pass through the skull unhindered to create electric currents of sufficient magnitude in discrete brain regions, thereby modulating the excitability of neurons.

TMS therapy has been approved by FDA for management of depression, fibromyalgia and migraine. In our laboratory, clinical trials for chronic pain disorders such as fibromyalgia, migraine, chronic tension type headache, back pain and orofacial pain is being undertaken. Preclinical trials and therapeutic efficacy of TMS for repair, regeneration and recovery in neurotraumatic disorders such as spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease is also being explored using appropriate rat models.

The proposed workshop will provide insight into principle, application and procedural details of TMS. The delegates will be provided hands on training for use of TMS in humans and animals.

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Brief Overview of Program

1. Introduction to Transcranial Magnetic stimulation

2. Applications of TMS in research and clinics

3. Oral presentations: TMS from bench to bedside

4. Hands on and demonstration of TMS technique