How Human Brain Works

How Human Brain Works

The brain regulates all body processes, including human emotions. Damage to any area of ​​the brain can lead to various diseases that significantly reduce the quality of life. Thanks to modern technology, it is possible to obtain very accurate data on brain activity and to improve the functioning of areas of the brain where functional disorders have occurred. Jānis Mednieks, a neurologist at the Diamed clinic, talks about the latest trends in brain research.

Why did you focus on brain research?

I have always been interested in exact sciences and physics. After high school, I considered studying computer science, but I decided in favor of medicine. Brain research combines both the medical side and the technical side, because nowadays data on the brain are obtained using various modern technologies.

What methods are used to obtain data on the brain?

Brain research methods can be divided into two major groups: either the structure of the brain, ie how the brain looks, or its function, ie how high or low the activity of different areas of the brain is studied.

The best results are obtained when structural and functional research methods are used together. Thanks to the latest technology, it is possible to diagnose various problems at an early stage, such as Alzheimer's disease.

If there is damage or altered activity in the brain, how can it be treated?

For centuries, doctors have dreamed of finding ways to act on the human brain, freeing it from various physical, nervous and mental illnesses in as painless a way as possible. Medications have been used, attempts have been made to stimulate the brain with electricity, but until the end of the last century it was not possible to find a method that would be effective, but without serious side effects. In 1985, a method of transcranial magnetic stimulation was discovered, which gives very good results, but at the same time is gentle. A magnetic field is used to act on the brain. Magnetism reduces or increases brain activity in certain regions to an accuracy of five millimeters.

What problems does magnetic stimulation of the brain help with?

Nowadays, this method is used to relieve pain in patients after a stroke, as well as in cases of head injuries. This method also helps patients with depression and is effective in a number of other diseases caused by the brain.

How can magnetic stimulation be used to treat depression?

Studies have shown that patients with depression have reduced activity in the frontal lobe. The forehead is responsible for how we perceive and respond to information. By stimulating this region, it is possible to reduce the symptoms of depression.

Stimulation of the brain can improve the ability of the nervous system to adapt to new conditions and create new neural networks. For example, if a person immediately feels bad when thinking about the future, it means that the stimulus always triggers one specific response. Other hitherto untapped regions of the brain need to be stimulated to generate a new response.

Unlike antidepressants, which tend to have side effects, magnetic stimulation has virtually no side effects, so it is also suitable for pregnant women suffering from depression. Since 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this method as a suitable and effective treatment for depression and pain.

Does trans cranial magnetic stimulation treat any pain?

No, not quite all. This method is very effective for trigeminal neuralgia, post-stroke pain, as well as diffuse or diffuse pain syndrome. Magnetic stimulation helps when the pain is neuropathic, that is, when it occurs in response to damage to the nervous system. This method also works well against phantom pain when a person is in pain with absent limbs, such as an amputated leg.

Patients who are easily treated with medication do not need this therapy, but it is suitable for those for whom the medication does not work or does not provide the desired effect. About 50% to 75% of patients experience less pain after transcranial magnetic stimulation, and the sooner treatment is started after the first symptoms appear, the better the effect.

If brain damage has occurred in the event of an injury or stroke, can it be prevented by stimulation?

Yes, magnetic stimulation restores brain activity in the affected area, so this method is effective both in trauma and post-stroke rehabilitation. Every year, about 5,000 stroke cases are detected in Latvia. A very large proportion of patients have movement and speech problems that could help them recover much faster. During magnetic stimulation, either the less active area is stimulated or the activity in the active area is reduced to balance the activity of both hemispheres of the brain.

What other problems can magnetic stimulation of the brain be used for?

There are good results with jingling in the ears. Elsewhere in the world, the method is being studied and used to treat cerebral palsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. Latvia does not yet work with children. In children, the activity of the cerebellum tends to vary greatly at different ages, so great care must be taken when trying to change the activity of the brain.

Are there cases where magnetic stimulation is not recommended?

This method is not recommended in cases of epilepsy, as well as in situations where patients have metallic objects in the brain, a pacemaker or a cochlear implant in the ear. In other cases, it has virtually no contraindications.