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Memory Enhancement Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

posted by janrinok on Sunday August 31 2014, @03:12PM   Printer-friendly
from the I've-forgotten-what-I-was-going-to-write-here dept.

mhajicek writes:

Using a 30-year-old brain stimulation technique, scientists have successfully boosted memory performance in healthy adults by zapping a specific bunch of neurons. While it’s unclear at this stage whether the effects will be long-lasting, the researchers are hopeful it could one day be used to treat patients with conditions that affect memory, such as Alzheimer’s. The study has been published in Science.

Brain zapping might sound horrifying, but transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure that’s been studied as a potential treatment for various disorders since the 1990s. TMS involves using magnets that are carefully positioned on the scalp to induce weak electric fields; these transient fields then stimulate nearby neurons in the outer layer of the brain called the cortex. Although researchers aren’t exactly sure why it works, it does appear to have positive effects on some patients with depression. The possibility that this technique could affect neuronal circuits involved in memory, however, had not been previously investigated.

Here is a link to the original Northwestern University release.

 
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  • (Score: 2) by buswolley on Sunday August 31 2014, @03:35PM

    by buswolley (848) on Sunday August 31 2014, @03:35PM (#87851)

    This study is creating a lot of excitement in my field.

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  • (Score: 2) by opinionated_science on Sunday August 31 2014, @04:42PM

    by opinionated_science (4031) on Sunday August 31 2014, @04:42PM (#87865)

    well if the stimulation enhances existing pathways that is good. If it creates unknown problems, perhaps we should wait and see!

    The gist of this, is we are putting energy into the brain and see what happens...kinda cool, though.

  • (Score: 2) by EvilSS on Sunday August 31 2014, @05:37PM

    by EvilSS (1456) Subscriber Badge on Sunday August 31 2014, @05:37PM (#87872)

    It's also creating a lot of excitement in the patients brains! *rimshot!*

  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Tork on Sunday August 31 2014, @09:27PM

    by Tork (3914) Subscriber Badge on Sunday August 31 2014, @09:27PM (#87928) Journal
    In my field there's a Scarecrow out there that's seriously excited, too!
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  • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday September 01 2014, @04:52AM

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday September 01 2014, @04:52AM (#88003) Journal

    This study is creating a lot of excitement in my field.

    By chance, are you working (in) the electromagnetic meadow?

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