1-20c.1:

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

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.

If the nerve cells are repeatedly stimulated, they become temporarily blocked. Prior to the stimulation, images are shown that have to be named. Then the nerve cells in the speech area are blocked by the repeated stimulation. The images must now be named once more. It may be that the images can no longer be named, or that they are named incorrectly.

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