Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation can cause Neurorehabilitation
Posted on November 2, 2009 Leave a Comment
The nervous system controls the flow of information between brain and all the other parts of our body. When this important mechanism in our body is hurt, serious disabilities are caused. Neurorehabilitation is the name given to the medical processes which try to recover the nervous system from the injury. Research now confirms how the technique of transcranial magnetic stimulation is helpful in rehabilitation of patients suffering from nrevous system injury. This article tries to gain further insight.
Knowlegde gained from research about Neurorehabilitation by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation:
- Researchers Dr Fortunato Battaglia and Dr Hoau-Yan Wang of the City University in New York conducted the research study(dated May 2007).
- They applied the technique of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on experimental mice for five days.
- This technique involves producing electric current by changing the direction of applied magnetic fields on the subjects.
- The produced electric current, when passed on the brain of the subjects, stimulate the brain cells called neurons.
- The researchers found that this technique caused developing of new brain cells in the mice.
- If the technique will be successful in humans too, then even the dreadful Alzheimer’s Disease can be treated.
- The research study also found that the technique can produce the very useful stem cells.
- The stem cells are the immature cells in our body with the potential to develop in any tissue or organ in the near future.
How Neurorehabilatation is possible with Transcranial Magnetic stimulation: According to the researchers of this study, whenever there ia an injury, there are many ways in which the affected region tries to recover. One such means is the excess functioning of the unaffected regions to compensate for the functions of the affected regions. This is achieved in the case of experimental mice by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation technique. So, the researchers are hopeful that the technique will be beneficial when applied successfully on humans too. They however have to understand the exact mechanism by which the brain cells respond to the magnetic stimulation.
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