Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

History of Neuromodulation

In course

NX-436: Advanced methods for human neuromodulation

Neuromodulation is an expending field especially in human translational neuroscience and neurotechnology. This course will introduce to different approaches / technologies for neuromodulation, their underlying mechanisms of action and application in humans ...

Description

This lecture covers the history of neuromodulation, starting with ancient treatments for headaches to modern non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. It explores the evolution of techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and focused ultrasound, highlighting their applications in treating neuropsychiatric diseases.

Instructor

Friedhelm Christoph Hummel

Official source

Related concepts (23)

Neurostimulation

Neurostimulation is the purposeful modulation of the nervous system's activity using invasive (e.g. microelectrodes) or non-invasive means (e.g. transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial electric stimulation, tES, such as tDCS or transcranial alternating current stimulation, tACS). Neurostimulation usually refers to the electromagnetic approaches to neuromodulation.

Transcranial direct-current stimulation

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of neuromodulation that uses constant, low direct current delivered via electrodes on the head. It was originally developed to help patients with brain injuries or neuropsychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder. It can be contrasted with cranial electrotherapy stimulation, which generally uses alternating current the same way, as well as transcranial magnetic stimulation. Research shows increasing evidence for tDCS as a treatment for depression.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive form of brain stimulation in which a changing magnetic field is used to induce an electric current at a specific area of the brain through electromagnetic induction. An electric pulse generator, or stimulator, is connected to a magnetic coil connected to the scalp. The stimulator generates a changing electric current within the coil which creates a varying magnetic field, inducing a current within a region in the brain itself.

Deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure involving the placement of a medical device called a neurostimulator, which sends electrical impulses, through implanted electrodes, to specific targets in the brain (the brain nucleus) for the treatment of movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and other conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and epilepsy. While its underlying principles and mechanisms are not fully understood, DBS directly changes brain activity in a controlled manner.

Lateralization of brain function

The lateralization of brain function (or hemispheric dominance/ latralisation ) is the tendency for some neural functions or cognitive processes to be specialized to one side of the brain or the other. The median longitudinal fissure separates the human brain into two distinct cerebral hemispheres, connected by the corpus callosum. Although the macrostructure of the two hemispheres appears to be almost identical, different composition of neuronal networks allows for specialized function that is different in each hemisphere.

Related lectures (33)

Non-invasive Neuromodulation: Transcranial Stimulation

Explores the history, methods, and applications of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques.

Neuroplasticity and Brain Stimulation

Explores neuroplasticity, brain stimulation techniques, and their applications in various neuro-psychiatric disorders and motor learning.

Motivation for Studying the Electrical Brain MOOC: Simulation Neurocience

Explores the motivation behind studying brain electrical activity and successful Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's patients.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Brain Functioning

Explores Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for determining brain functioning, covering electrophysiological evaluation, virtual lesion approaches, and neuromodulation.

Non-invasive Transcranial Neuromodulation: Stimulation Techniques