Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a recently developed noninvasive brain stimulation method for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders.  This is a treatment technique that uses a magnetic field to influence brain activity. It can treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other brain-related conditions. It’s noninvasive and can help when other treatment approaches aren’t effective. The side effects are usually mild and temporary.  Although, its exact mechanism of action is still not clear, current evidence points toward its role in causing long-term inhibition and excitation of neurons in certain brain areas. The strength of the magnetic waves is calibrated to the individual patient, and different parts of the brain are targeted depending on the goal.

To treat depression, for example, the magnetic waves are aimed at an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex; for OCD, it’s the region around the top of the head known as the pre‐supplementary motor area; for tinnitus, the target area is the auditory cortex, above the left ear.  The number of treatments required also varies depending on what is being treated.  For example depression needs 32-36 treatments and smoking cession needs just 14 treatments.