Transcranial static magnetic stimulation -From bench to bedside and beyond

Abstract

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques are extensively applied for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and offer a powerful tool for addressing fundamental questions in neuroscience research. Recently, the use of static magnetic fields (SMFs) as a tool of NIBS has led to the development of a safe and promising method of neuromodulation called transcranial static magnetic stimulation (tSMS). However, the neurophysiological mechanisms regarding the effect of tSMS on the cortical elements are not yet fully understood. Here, we focus on the modulation of cortical excitability and oscillatory brain activity induced by tSMS. We believe that understanding the physiological mechanisms of this novel method is an important step for developing these techniques into potentially useful tools for the treatment of specific patient groups. Reviewing the neurophysiological evidence provided by human and animal studies suggests that tSMS may affect brain oscillations and alter behavioral parameters through the modulation of cortical excitability. In this review, we outline possible accounts and future directions to better understand the link between neural modification and accompanied behavioral changes.

Keywords: Cortical excitability; Oscillatory activity; Transcranial static magnetic stimulation; motor learning.