Neurostimulation technologies in neurology and neuropsychiatry

Novel neurostimulation technologies are gaining momentum in both basic and applied clinical research and have the potential to become an important tool in the management of a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. This chapter reviews some of these technologies and summarizes their current applications. The mechanisms of therapeutic effect remain speculative, but contributions from computational, imaging, and behavioural neurosciences, along with potential insights from immunology, are gradually increasing our understanding. This area of brain research and therapeutics is set to exponentially increase in relevance and importance, with possible advances in therapeutic applications in more neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Clinicians need to be aware and be informed about this changing clinical horizon.