VI Electric and Magnetic Stimulation of Neural Tissue



VIElectric and
Magnetic Stimulation of Neural Tissue


Parts VI and VII focus on the second subdivision
of bioelectromagnetism, stimulation and magnetization, also called electro- and
magnetobiology. The discussion of electric stimulation is also divided along
anatomical lines. Part VI deals with neural tissue and Part VII with cardiac
tissue. Chapter 21 describes the electric stimulation of peripheral nervous
tissue, especially in order to produce muscular activity. Therefore it is called
functional electric stimulation. The electric stimulation of biological
tissue is an important topic in clinical applications. This subdivision of
bioelectromagnetism was also historically first applied to human subjects.
Because of space considerations, we have excluded many very important clinical
applications of electric stimulation. The discussion on electric stimulation of
the central nervous system is not included because, theoretically, the
distribution of the electric current in the brain tissue follows, according to
the reciprocity theorem, the sensitivity distribution of the corresponding
measurement electrodes. Similarly, other important topics, such as electric
treatment of pain, are also excluded because from a theoretical point of view,
they offer little that is new while the physiological/clinical goals are poorly
documented. Chapter 22 discusses the principle of magnetic stimulation and its
neurological applications. At present the widest application of magnetic
stimulation is the stimulation of the central nervous system. Electromagnetic energy can be applied also to nonexcitable tissues.
Such applications include, for instance, electrosurgical devices (surgical
diathermy) and electrotherapeutic devices. The latter have many applications in
physiotherapy. Similarly, we could also list magnetotherapeutic devices. Because
these methods and devices do not raise new theoretical concerns that lie within
the scope of this book, they are excluded.