Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Chapter

Keypoints

  1. 1.

    Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive method for applying electromagnetic fields to the brain.

     
  2. 2.

    rTMS can induce alterations of neuronal activity that outlast the stimulation period.

     
  3. 3.

    By modulating the excitability of the auditory cortex, rTMS can influence tinnitus perception.

     
  4. 4.

    Single sessions of rTMS over the temporal or temporoparietal cortex have been successful in transiently reducing tinnitus perception.

     
  5. 5.

    Repeated sessions of rTMS have resulted in tinnitus relief in a subgroup of patients lasting from several days to several months.

     
  6. 6.

    However, effect sizes of rTMS in the treatment of tinnitus are only moderate, and interindividual variability is high.

     
  7. 7.

    Further research is needed before this technique can be recommended for routine clinical use.

     

Keywords

Tinnitus Transcranial magnetic stimulation Functional imaging Cortical excitability Neuromodulation 

Abbreviations

DLFP

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

EEG

Electroencephalography

FDG

[18F]deoxyglucose

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

MT

Motor threshold

PET

Positron emission tomography

rTMS

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

TMS

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of OtorhinolaryngologyUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany

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