Magnetic fields pass through tissue undiminished and without producing harmful effects, motivating their use as a wireless, minimally invasive means to control neural activity. Here, we review mechanisms and techniques coupling magnetic fields to changes in electrochemical potentials across neuronal membranes. Biological magnetoreception, although incompletely understood, is discussed as a potential source of inspiration. The emergence of magnetic properties in materials is reviewed to clarify the distinction between biomolecules containing transition metals and ferrite nanoparticles that exhibit significant net moments. We describe recent developments in the use of magnetic nanomaterials as transducers converting magnetic stimuli to forms readily perceived by neurons and discuss opportunities for multiplexed and bidirectional control as well as the challenges posed by delivery to the brain. The variety of magnetic field conditions and mechanisms by which they can be coupled to neuronal signaling cascades highlights the desirability of continued interchange between magnetism physics and neurobiology.

中文翻译：

---

神经系统控制的磁性策略。

磁场不会减弱地通过组织，并且不会产生有害影响，从而促使它们用作控制神经活动的无线，微创手段。在这里，我们审查机制和技术耦合磁场跨神经元膜的电化学势的变化。尽管尚未完全理解生物磁感受，但它被认为是潜在的灵感来源。审查了材料中磁性的出现，以阐明含过渡金属的生物分子和表现出明显净矩的铁氧体纳米颗粒之间的区别。我们描述了使用磁性纳米材料作为将磁性刺激转换为神经元容易感知的形式的换能器的最新进展，并讨论了多路和双向控制的机会以及传递到大脑所带来的挑战。各种磁场条件及其可以耦合到神经元信号级联的机制，突显了磁物理学与神经生物学之间不断互换的必要性。