Magnetic research for better brain health
A pioneering therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain to treat conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy and stroke is now better understood thanks to Western Australian researchers. The researchers tested the therapy – known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) – on mice to find out how it can be applied to treating human neurological disease. The work demonstrated for the first time that pulsed magnetic fields promote changes in brain chemicals that correct abnormal brain connections, resulting in improved behaviour and brain function.
A/Prof Jennifer Rodger, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia
FASEB (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201202024309/research/magnetic-research-better-brain-health
