NeuroStar TMS Therapy is a 40-minute outpatient procedure that is performed under the supervision of a psychiatrist. It does not require anesthesia or sedation, and patients remain awake and alert during the procedure. Treatment is administered daily for four to six weeks (20-30 treatments).

During NeuroStar TMS Therapy, magnetic field pulses are generated and aimed at the left, prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain that has been demonstrated to function abnormally in patients with depression. This magnetic field is the same type and strength as those produced by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. The magnetic field pulses pass unimpeded through the hair, skin, and skull and into the brain.

Once inside the brain, the magnetic field pulses induce an electrical current to flow. The amount of electricity created is very small and cannot be felt by the patient, but the electric charges cause the neurons to become active and are thought to lead to the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine