Which term describes the application of repeated pulses of magnetic energy to the brain to stimulate or suppress brain activity?

Which term describes the application of repeated pulses of magnetic energy to the brain to stimulate or suppress brain activity?

• A. Lobotomy
• B. Posttraumatic growth
• C. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
• D. Psychosurgery

Answer: (C)

Noninvasive brain stimulation with magnetic energy delivered in repeated bursts is Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. In this approach, a coil sits on the scalp and emits magnetic pulses that pass through the skull to induce small electric currents in specific cortical areas. By repeating these pulses over a session, and across multiple sessions, the technique can modulate neuronal activity in that region—either increasing or decreasing excitability depending on the stimulation pattern. This noninvasive method is used in research and clinical settings to influence brain function without surgery, with applications including mood disorders and other conditions. The other terms refer to different ideas: one is a surgical procedure that disconnects brain tissue, another is a psychosurgical concept involving invasive operations, and the last describes psychological growth after trauma—none of which describe the patterned magnetic stimulation used here.

Noninvasive brain stimulation with magnetic energy delivered in repeated bursts is Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. In this approach, a coil sits on the scalp and emits magnetic pulses that pass through the skull to induce small electric currents in specific cortical areas. By repeating these pulses over a session, and across multiple sessions, the technique can modulate neuronal activity in that region—either increasing or decreasing excitability depending on the stimulation pattern. This noninvasive method is used in research and clinical settings to influence brain function without surgery, with applications including mood disorders and other conditions.

The other terms refer to different ideas: one is a surgical procedure that disconnects brain tissue, another is a psychosurgical concept involving invasive operations, and the last describes psychological growth after trauma—none of which describe the patterned magnetic stimulation used here.