Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Neuropsychiatry

From our regular book review column.

For centuries, scientists have dreamed of being able to stimulate the brain noninvasively in an awake, alert individual and simultaneously observe changes in behavior. Here, the authors detail how transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has advanced very close to that goal and in some limited circumstanceshas even achieved it. TMS involves the rapid application of very high magnetic fields and is different from the work involving constant exposure to low-field magnets that is so popular at the moment. This book comprehensively reviews TMS, covering its history, physics, safety, and recent research and clinical work.