What is brain stimulation?

brain stimulation is a technique that includes the introduction of electrical currents into the brain to interrupt the function of the brain. Scientists can use brain stimulation to study brain functioning and to explore specific neurological and psychological conditions, and this technique is also used in the treatment of certain health conditions. While psychosurgery, as a surgery in the brain to cause functional changes, has some negative associations thanks to brutal procedures performed in the 20th century, brain stimulation has some promising applications. Neurologists have also taken a number of steps to assure patients that brain stimulation procedures are very different from procedures used in psychiatric care in the 50th and 60s. Rather than causing structural changes in the brain, electrodes are determined bystrastra electrical signals, thereby dealing with a condition such as tremor. Because deep stimulation of the brain does not cause permanent changes, the procedure is completely reversible. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, less invasive technique includespoužití magnetických polí kolem lebky k generování malých elektrických nábojů.

It seems that several disorders of movement, such as tremor and Parkinson's disease, benefit from brain stimulation, as the procedure can be used to stop electrical signals that cause shaking and tremor. Although this technique cannot cure disease or arrest progress of related neurological problems such as memory loss and confusion, can alleviate physical symptoms. Chronická bolest a deprese lze také léčit stimulací mozku, přičemž postup se obecně doporučuje, když selže jiné možnosti léčby.

jak hluboký mozek, tak transkraniální magnetickéStimulace nesou některá významná rizika. In the case of deep brain stimulation, the patient must undergo neurosurgery, which may be very risky and the electrodes may not be implanted correctly, which can lead to different side effects. Transkraniální magnetická stimulace byla spojenawith seizures and convulsions in some patients and it seems that evidence suggests that this procedure also causes structural changes in the brain, which could have dangerous consequences for some patients.

While the foundations of brain stimulation are used since the age of 80, the procedure is constantly refined and studied. In some regions, it is considered experimental and can only be available to patients who are willing to participate in research studies and clinical trials. In other regions, the procedure can be generally available to patients from facilities with qualified neurosurgeons, although it can be very expensive, and not all insurance companies will agree to cover neurosurgery they consider to be experimental.