Magnetic Field Treatment Techniques

Abstract

The invention involves enhancing brain function by stimulating the brain using magnetic fields. Applications of the new methods include improving the condition of individuals with cognitive disorders, such as depression, and studying the effects of neural stimulation using induced electric fields. These techniques can avoid deleterious effects of psychotropic pharmaceutical treatments, and provide a relatively safe, comfortable, inexpensive means of direct cranial stimulation.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:
 generating an electric field comprising a series of electric field pulses having a frequency of at least about 100 Hz, wherein each pulse has a single polarity and the pulses are separated by periods of substantially no electric field; and   subjecting the patient's head to the electric field.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the frequency of the series of electric field pulses is about 1 kHz. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electric field pulses have an amplitude less than about 10 V/m. 
     
     
         24 . The method of claim  20 , wherein the electric field pulses have an amplitude less than about 5 V/m. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electric field is substantially unidirectional over at least a region of the patient's brain. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein successive electric field pulses have alternating polarity. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the duration of each electric field pulse is less than or equal to about 10 milliseconds. 
     
     
         28 . The method of claim  20 , wherein the duration of each electric field pulse is less than or equal to about 1 millisecond. 
     
     
         29 . The method of claim  20 , wherein the duration of each electric field pulse is about 250 microseconds. 
     
     
         30 . A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:
 generating an electric field comprising a series of electric field pulses, wherein the pulses have a duration less than about 10 milliseconds, and wherein each pulse has a single polarity and the pulses are separated by periods of substantially no electric field; and   subjecting the patient's head to the electric field.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the electric field pulses have an amplitude less than about 10 V/m. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the electric field pulses have an amplitude less than about 5 V/m. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the electric field is substantially unidirectional over at least a region of the patient's brain. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein successive electric field pulses have alternating polarity. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the duration of each electric field pulse is less than or equal to about 1 millisecond. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the frequency of the series of electric field pulses is at least about 100 Hz. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the frequency of the series of electric field pulses is at least about 1 kHz. 
     
     
         38 . A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:
 generating an electric field comprising a series of electric field pulses, wherein each electric field pulse has a single polarity and the pulses are separated by periods of substantially no electric field; and   subjecting the patient's brain to the electric field, wherein the electric field is substantially unidirectional over at least a region of the patient's brain.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the electric field pulses have an amplitude less than about 5 V/m. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein successive electric field pulses have alternating polarity.