1-20c.0:

A magnet was used to stimulate the area of your brain that is responsible for movement.

The brain is made up of several areas. For example, the cerebrum is used to think and plan actions. In the cerebellum, movements are initialized and coordinated. The brain stem is responsible for various unconscious tasks such as breathing. The brain stem passes into the spinal cord.

The brain consists of very many individual nerve cells. Many of the brain’s processes involve mild electrical currents flowing to the nerve cells. This, again, helps generate weak, magnetic signals in the nerve cells.

The testing involved stimulating the nerve cells in specific areas externally. The nerve cells were stimulated by placing a sort of magnet above your head from outside. The magnet generates a weak electrical charge in the surface of the brain. When the nerve cells are stimulated, small electrical currents flow between them.

When nerve cells in the movement area are stimulated, currents in the associated muscles can be measured. Small electrical currents flow to the muscles when they move. To measure these currents, small metal plates, for example, are attached to the skin in the muscle area.

The testing can more accurately assign the brain area that is responsible for the movement. Then, if surgery is being performed, for example, this area can be given special protection.