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Types of Brain Stimulation
At least nine methods are being studied.
The most common:
- Transcranial magenetic stimulation (TMS): With the patient awake in the office, external magnetic pulses induce an electrical field on the surface of the brain, activating neurons below. Non-invasive.
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): Electrical stimulation of the scalp under anesthesia induces a wave of activity across the brain - a seizure. A gentler, magnetically triggered version is being tested.
- Vegus nerve stimulation (VNS): A pacemaker in the chest sends electrical impulses to electrodes in contact with the vagus nerve in the neck, and then up to the brain.
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS): This is similar to VNS, but electrodes are surgically implanted in the brain to stimulate precise regions in various disorders. Highly invasive.
