Neuromodulation Therapies - Patient Information

Neuromodulation treatments encompass a growing variety of methods that target the brain or nervous system at specific locations in the body, delivering mild electrical stimulation or drugs to relieve pain or restore function. If you would like more information about new techniques under investigation, please see the Research page for listings of clinical trials by category. Some of the more commonly treated conditions and techniques are defined or featured below, part of this site's growing list of descriptions and explanations.

Conditions in which selected patients respond to neuromodulation therapies include:

• Brain-Computer Interface in Movement Disorders >> fact sheet
• Cancer Pain and Neuromodulation >> fact sheet
• Chronic Critical Limb Ischemia >> fact sheet
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome >> fact sheet
• Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type 2 >> fact sheet
• Fecal Incontinence >> fact sheet
• Gastric Disorders >> fact sheet
• Medically Refractory Angina >> fact sheet
• Medically Refractory Epilepsy >> fact sheet
• Migraine and Medically Refractory Headache >> fact sheet
• Neuropathy, Neuropathic Pain and Painful Peripheral Neuropathy >> fact sheet
• Parkinson’s Disease >> fact sheet
• Pelvic Floor Disorders >> fact sheet
• Peripheral Vascular Disease >> fact sheet
• Spasticity >> fact sheet
• Urologic Disorders >> fact sheet

Cochlear implants were one of the first
applications of neuromodulation.

See videos about neuromodulation

Neuromodulation therapies using electrical stimulation:

Entries with this mark: present detailed background information, and have downloadable PDFs

• Cerebral (Motor) Cortex Stimulation
• Closed-Loop Stimulation
• Cochlear Implants
• Cortical Stimulation
  Deep Brain Stimulation
  Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery
  Deep Brain Stimulation Targets
• Diaphragm (Phrenic) Pacing
• Gastric Stimulation
• Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation
• Intestinal Electrical Stimulation
• Occipital Nerve Stimulation
• Percutaneous Sacral Nerve Stimulation
• Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
• Pudendal Nerve Stimulation
• Retinal Stimulation
• Sacral (Urologic) Nerve Stimulation
  Spinal Cord Stimulation
• Subcutaneous Peripheral Field Stimulation
• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS or rTMS)
• Transcranial Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
• Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation
• Vagus (Vagal) Nerve Stimulation

Neuromodulation therapies using targeted drug delivery:

Entries with this mark: present detailed background information, and have downloadable PDFs

• Baclofen Infusion
• Intrathecal Drug Delivery
• Intraventricular

Glossary of definitions:

• Neuromodulation-related definitions from A to Z

Tables summarizing clinical research studies of deep brain stimulation in behavioral conditions:

• Deep brain stimulation in addiction (updated in 2018)
• Deep brain stimulation in treatment-resistant depression (updated in 2020)
• Deep brain stimulation in obsessive compulsive disorder (updated in 2020)
• Deep brain stimulation in Tourette syndrome (compiled 2012-2013 ) (see also: 2020 review)

Please note: This information should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment and advice. Always consult a medical professional about any health-related questions or concerns.