NeuroStar TMS Therapy®—Unique Mechanism of Action
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, uses a highly targeted pulsed magnetic field, similar in type and strength to those produced by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, to stimulate cortical neurons.
How NeuroStar® Works
1. Precise pulsed magnetic fields induce small electric currents in the prefrontal cortex of the brain that activates deeper brain regions
2. Local neurons depolarize, which leads to activation of deep brain structures via transsynaptic pathways
3. Activation of these pathways in the limbic system leads to the release of neurotransmitters
4. Blood flow and glucose metabolism rise in the activated regions, which is thought to result in improved mood
Neuroimaging studies have documented changes in cortical metabolic activity in tissue directly stimulated by TMS and in distal networks known to be involved in mood regulation.14
Repeated activation of the left prefrontal cortex is known to produce antidepressant effects in patients suffering from major depression.13
NeuroStar TMS Therapy provides targeted stimulation of the brain regions involved in mood regulation without the burden of systemic side effects.
