A groundbreaking study has found that electromagnetic induction of light currents in the brain can reduce the excitability of the addiction center, helping smokers quit. Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston published a study in Biological Psychiatry in 2013, which suggested that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) could help smokers quit. However, the study was not conclusive as only 16 participants were involved. To address this, an international team of researchers from the USA and Israel conducted a further study with 262 participants. TMS stimulates the brain through short magnetic fields generated by a coil held above the patient’s head. The electromagnetic induction triggers a minimal current in the brain tissue, which can influence the brain’s information processing. The researchers used a specific form of TMS that activates the brain extensively in all regions that are likely to influence human addiction behavior, including the frontal lobes of the brain. The researchers hypothesized that stimulating these regions with magnetically induced light currents would reduce the excitability of the addiction center and, therefore, reduce the craving for cigarettes or nicotine.
All participants in the study had previously attempted to quit smoking at least once. Half of the participants were treated with TMS, while the other half received a placebo. The abstinence rate among the TMS group was more than double that of the control group after six weeks, with 28% of participants remaining smoke-free. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized TMS therapy as a result of this remarkable outcome. TMS has been approved for the treatment of depression in the USA since 2008, and in subsequent years, it has been approved for various forms of migraines and compulsive disorders. In Germany, people can receive TMS treatment, but the costs are rarely covered by health insurance.
This study provides hope for smokers who have struggled to quit in the past. TMS therapy is a non-invasive and painless treatment that could help smokers overcome their addiction. The study’s findings could also have implications for other forms of addiction, such as alcoholism or drug addiction. The recognition of TMS therapy by the FDA is a significant step forward in the treatment of addiction and could lead to further research and development in this field.
