Could a magnetic field make a hand move without touching the brain? At the University of Sheffield in England, Anthony Barker, Reza Jalinous, and Ian Freeston developed a device that delivered a brief magnetic pulse through a coil held above the head.
The pulse induced an electrical current in the motor cortex, producing a muscle response without surgery. Their report, published in The Lancet on May 11, 1985, demonstrated non-invasive magnetic stimulation of the human motor cortex.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation gave researchers a new way to investigate the pathways connecting brain and muscle. Instead of simply recording activity, they could briefly stimulate a brain region and measure its effects.
The demonstration helped establish a new branch of neurotechnology. Later developments brought applications in brain research and treatments such as repetitive TMS for depression.
Last Updated on October 14, 2026 | Published: October 14, 2026