Transcranial magnetic stimulation: Basic principles and applications in physical activity and sport
Abstract
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a novel technique which permits painless stimulation of the cerebral cortex in humans without requiring open access to the brain, and if used following appropriate guidelines, is devoid of important side effects. TMS has been broadly used. It began as a tool for studying motor cortex function, but is now being used to look at cognitive functions, to treat neurological disorders or to study the reaction time. In this article we like to review the technical aspects of TMS and its main applications, and discuss the possibility of using TMS as a research tool to study Sport Sciences.