Question

State any two advantages of TMS over traditional lesion studies of brain function.

Answer 1

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive tool used for brain stimulation, this technique  uses magnetic stimulation to generate electrical current in the cerebral cortex via a device that generates a brief electric current in a coil placed near the patient’s head, the electric current in the coil in turn creates a magnetic-field,  The magnetic field then produces a varient current,this transient interference effectively creates a short lasting virtual lesion.

The noninvasive approach has the advantage of having a greater safety profile and low cost burden for the patients Because of the noninvasiveness of such approaches, they can be repeated as desired. The other advantage of TMS over lesion studies, the effects of stimulation are generally more spatially precise than naturally occurring lesions, which are often large and vary greatly across patients. In addition, participants can be used as their own controls.