Transcranial magnetic stimulation as a new tool to control pain perception

Treatment for chronic pain is frequently unsuccessful or characterized by side-effects.The high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) has been suggested in the management of refractory chronic pain.Various studies have shown that HF-rTMS sessions of long-duration applied at primary motor cortex induce pain relief through mechanisms of plastic changes.Efficacy of rTMS mostly depends on stimulation parameters, but this aspect requires better characterization.A rationale to target other cortical areas exists.Current data are promising, but a careful analysis of stimulation settings and maintenance treatment design are need.