Non-invasive brain stimulation refers to techniques that modulate neural activity through the intact scalp and skull, without surgery or implanted electrodes. The two principal modalities are transcranial magnetic stimulation, which uses rapidly changing magnetic fields to induce focal electrical currents that can d…
Non-invasive brain stimulation refers to techniques that modulate neural activity through the intact scalp and skull, without surgery or implanted electrodes. The two principal modalities are transcranial magnetic stimulation, which uses rapidly changing magnetic fields to induce focal electrical currents that can depolarize cortical neurons, and transcranial electrical stimulation, including direct-current and alternating-current variants, which delivers weak currents that shift the resting membrane potential and bias the likelihood of firing rather than directly triggering action potentials. By raising or lowering cortical excitability, these methods can probe causal brain-behavior relationships and induce lasting changes through mechanisms resembling synaptic long-term potentiation and depression. Stimulation parameters such as intensity, frequency, electrode or coil placement, and session timing determine whether the net effect is facilitatory or inhibitory. Clinically, non-invasive brain stimulation is investigated and applied across neurological and psychiatric conditions, including depression, stroke rehabilitation, chronic pain, and movement disorders. Its appeal lies in a favorable safety profile, reversibility, and suitability for repeated outpatient use, distinguishing it from invasive approaches such as deep brain stimulation. Ongoing research focuses on individualized targeting, neuronavigation, closed-loop control, and combining stimulation with behavioral training to enhance and sustain therapeutic effects.
7 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 7 articles above have been cited 28 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Non-invasive Brain Stimulation, linking to each citing work.