Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Laboratory
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique used to stimulate the human brain. It was invented in 1985 and has since been used extensively for research and clinical purposes.
TMS has a unique role in understanding how the brain works. It can be used for turning a specific brain area "off" for a little time. Therefore, TMS allows establishing causality between brain activations and different types of sensory, motor, and cognitive functions.
Here at the UEA School of Psychology we utilise TMS to gain novel insights into the human brain. For example, we currently utilise TMS to investigate language processing; the role of mental animation in processing language.
We combine TMS with navigation devices that allow accurate localization of the stimulated area. We use ‘Brainsight2’, a stereotactic image guidance system that facilitates the positioning of transcranial magnetic stimulator coils over a subject's brain.