The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord and all the wire-like peripheral nerves. For proper bodily function, information about the state of almost every body part is transmitted by the peripheral nerves through the spinal cord to the brain for evaluation and processing. Once processed the brain sends signals back down through the spinal cord out through the peripheral nerves and makes adjustments to various tissues in the body. This allows the body to adapt to changing needs and make necessary corrections to insure optimal functioning and health. Any interruption along the course of this loop from the periphery to the brain and back, will lead to ill-health, pain or other symptoms. We can think of the brain, spinal cord and nerves as a very complex communication network. How complex? Well consider this; if you could lay all the nerve fibers traversing the human body end-to-end, you would literally have miles of nerve fibers. These miles of fibers all act as cables carrying and coordinating information coming from and going to various parts of the body. It is this remarkable coördination of information traveling through the neural tissues that enable humans to do amazing things like dancing ballet and playing baseball.

However, because of its complexity, damage, illness or injury to the nervous system causes severe disability even effecting simple day-to-day functions. The communication complexity of the nervous system also makes nerve related illnesses very difficult to effectively treat. There a few drugs that can offer relief from nerve-type pain and even fewer that can actually repair damage in ailing neural tissues. Furthermore, most medications used to treat nervous system disorders also come with unpleasant side effects. Taken together, these facts about treatment of nerve-related illness leave most patients frustrated and dissatisfied.

However, research coming from the field of neuroscience is starting to offer hope to patients with various types of nervous system disorders. While it is true that few, if any, drugs can repair the nervous system, researchers are discovering that highly specific forms of exercise aimed directly at the "weak link" in the neural communications network can and do repair and recover lost nervous system function.

Let me tell you about one of the most promising breakthrough findings in the field of rehabilitation of the nervous system. It is a discovery that scientists call neuro-plasticity. Now neuroplasticity is a strange word for sure, but neuroplasticity simply means that the nervous system, unlike copper wires and cables found in an electrical communications network, is moldable and changeable. It means that the damaged portions of the nervous system may be shaped and reshaped and reworked and have potential for repair.

In fact even in the most difficult nervous systems disorders like traumatic brain injury, stroke or even spinal cord injury, may with targeted and optimal stimulation be remodeled and reworked and to a certain extent repaired!

The discovery of this property, neuroplasticity, within the nervous system has offered more hope for more people suffering from neurological disorders than any other discovery in the field of neuroscience.

Over the last few decades neuroscientists have studied ways to use the plasticity of the nervous system to develop more effective treatments for diverse neurological conditions.

Some of the most promising developments have come in the field of chronic pain treatment. In recent years an entirely new field of treatment for nerve related pain has emerged.

It is called Neuromodulation.

Neuromodulation is the science of taking control over lost function within the nervous system by electrical and other forms of stimulation. It is true that the basic concepts of electrical stimulation of the nervous system have been around for a very long time. What makes Neuromodulation both new and exciting is the fact that scientists have discovered techniques to use electrical stimulation that can turn off over-active nerves, awaken sluggish nerves and most importantly (over time) to remodel the nervous system for the purpose of nerve repair and rehabilitation.

Neuromodulation, based on the newly discovered properties of neuroplasticity, when combined with electrical stimulation and exercise very often can make long-lasting therapeutic changes within the nervous system. The study and application of Neuromodulation is an exploding field within the neurosciences.

A common example of applied Neuromodulation is the cardiac pacemaker. We all know someone who has a pacemaker. Well the cardiac pacemaker is a primitive example of Neuromodulation. It uses an electrical signal to replace the lost function of the machinery within the heart which is responsible for controlling the rate and rhythm of heart contraction.

Variations of this basic concept are in differing stages of development for possible treatment of chronic pain, seizures, migraines, depression, and many other conditions. The list of conditions that seem to be candidates for treatment through modulation of the nervous system via artificial stimulation is growing rapidly. Quite often techniques of Neuromodulation are proving successful with even the most difficult cases. Even after all other treatment including surgery has failed.

So you are probably wondering, "What is the downside?"

The answer to that question is a good news-bad news-good news scenario.

The good news, really great news, is that techniques of Neuromodulation are offering real hope for people suffering from various forms of difficult-to-treat neurological conditions. The bad news is that most current techniques of Neuromodulation (just like a cardiac pacemaker) require surgery and implantation of the electrical stimulator within the body. This means that they are invasive and carry all the risks associated with surgery. It also means that any failure of the device requires additional surgery to repair or replace malfunctioning components.

However, the next wave of good news about Neuromodulation is recent research that suggests non-invasive (non-surgical) external Neuromodulation may be possible and effective.

Currently non-surgical Neuromodulation of the brain might be possible using transcranial stimulation. This is accomplished through the use of a specific type of mild electric current applied through electrodes placed over the scalp. The technique is known as transcranial direct current stimulation or tDC for short. Current research suggests that this tDC treatment can enhance brain function in those areas of the brain that have decreased activity or may, depending on the setup, be used to calm areas of the brain that are overactive.

There is burgeoning research from around the globe that suggests this simple non-invasive method of Neuromodulation might be effective for the treatment of many types of nervous system dysfunction. A variation of this technique is being applied over the spine for treatment of chronic pain syndromes. This technique of Neuromodulation is known as Transcutaneous Spinal Direct Current stimulation or ts-DC for short.

Preliminary research suggests that ts-DC can turn-off those parts of the spinal cord that are responsible for carrying pain signals from the body to the brain. Without the need for surgery or other invasive procedures. This is a very exciting development for patients in chronic pain.

The use of electrical stimulation to modulate the nervous system for the purpose of restoring lost function within the body is becoming commonplace. The knowledge derived from surgical procedures of Neuromodulation is driving the development of methods to use the nervous system to repair and restore lost function without the need for surgery.

The field of Neuromodulation should, as our knowledge of the nervous system grows, offer more effective and less invasive methods to restore and repair malfunction within the nervous system. Stay tuned!