Neuromodulation

Neuromodulation is the targeted alteration of nerve activity—using electrical stimulation or chemical agents—to restore function or relieve symptoms in the nervous system.

This technology directly interfaces with the nervous system, modulating neural activity via precise delivery of a stimulus (electrical current or pharmaceutical agents). Key applications include Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, and Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) for chronic neuropathic pain. The modern field began in the 1960s; for example, neurosurgeon C. Norman Shealy pioneered the first implantable SCS device in 1967. Devices operate by sending low-voltage electrical pulses from an implanted pulse generator to target nerves (e.g., the spinal cord) via thin leads, effectively inhibiting pain signals or stimulating motor function where needed. Non-invasive methods, such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), also fall under this umbrella.

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