for causally investigating the role of network activity in various cognitive functions. These studies have also demonstrated that TMS and tDCS affect not only the focal region to which stimulation is being applied, but also affect widespread cortical areas that are connected to the target region. Consequently, these techniques permit the modulation of functional connectivity networks. The application of these tools has provided unique insights into the network dysfunctions underlying human neuropsychiatric disease, and there have been a number of recent studies focusing on understanding and modulating these networks for therapeutic benefit, with promising results in diseases such as depression, stroke recovery and schizophrenia. Thus, noninvasive brain stimulation in combination with neuroimaging techniques offer considerable potential to further our understanding and treatment of the network activity underlying human brain function and pathology.
