How Do Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Transcranial Direct Current

question 9

Essay

How do transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) differ? Give a real or hypothetical example of an occasion when one of these methods would be preferable to the other. Explain why.

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Definitions:

Genetic Linkage Studies

Studies in which researchers examine families that have a high incidence of a particular psychiatric disorder. Within these extended families the researchers look for the presence of particular traits (called genetic markers) that can be linked to the occurrence of the disorder.

Psychiatric Disorder

A mental disorder or illness that significantly interferes with an individual’s cognitive, emotional, or social abilities, often diagnosed and treated within the field of psychiatry.

Genetic Markers

Specific sequences of DNA or RNA that can be used to identify individuals or species and are often used to study the relationship between an inherited disease and its genetic cause.

Extended Families

A family structure that goes beyond the nuclear family, including relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, often living close to or with each other.