Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Last updated
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation.jpg
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
(schematic diagram)
Specialty Psychiatry, neurology
MeSH D050781

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive neurostimulation technique in which a changing magnetic field is used to induce an electric current in a targeted area of the brain through electromagnetic induction. A device called a stimulator generates electric pulses that are delivered to a magnetic coil placed against the scalp. The resulting magnetic field penetrates the skull and induces a secondary electric current in the underlying brain tissue, modulating neural activity. [1] [2]

Contents

Medical devices delivering repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have provided reasonably safe and effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), chronic pain, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). [3] They have shown evidence of effectiveness in the treatment of various neurological and psychiatric conditions—especially depression, neuropathic pain, and stroke recovery—and emerging advancements like intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) and image-guided targeting may improve its efficacy and efficiency. [4] [5]

Adverse effects of TMS appear rare and include fainting and seizure, which occur in roughly 0.1% of patients and are usually attributable to administration error. [6]

Medical uses

A magnetic coil is positioned on the patient's head. Neuro-ms.png
A magnetic coil is positioned on the patient's head.

TMS does not require surgery or electrode implantation. Its use can be diagnostic and/or therapeutic. Effects vary based on frequency and intensity of the magnetic pulses as well as the length of treatment, which dictates the total number of pulses given. [8]

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared rTMS devices for use in the treatment of depression in the United States (US). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance in the United Kingdom (UK) for that use. Private clinics and some Veterans Affairs medical centers provide treatments for that use. TMS stimulates cortical tissue without the pain sensations produced in transcranial electrical stimulation. [9]

Diagnosis

TMS can be used clinically to measure activity and function of specific brain circuits in humans, most commonly with single or paired magnetic pulses. [10] The most widely accepted use is in measuring the connection between the primary motor cortex of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system to evaluate damage related to past or progressive neurologic insult. [10] [11] TMS has utility as a diagnostic instrument for myelopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. [12]

Treatment and efficacy

The FDA has found that devices producing rTMS are reasonably safe and effective, as they have apparently produced improvements in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including MDD (2008), headache pain (2013), and OCD (2018). Only minor adverse effects have usually accompanied these improvements. [3]

A group of European investigators has updated the therapeutic guidelines for rTMS, reviewing studies up to the end of 2018. They found the highest level of evidence, Level A (definite efficacy) for high-frequency rTMS of the primary motor cortex for neuropathic pain, high-frequency rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for depression, and low-frequency rTMS of the contralesional motor cortex for hand motor recovery after stroke. Level B evidence (probable efficacy) was found in conditions such as fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and post-stroke aphasia, depending on the rTMS protocol used. No other conditions reached Level A or B evidence. These recommendations are based on differences in therapeutic outcomes between real and sham rTMS, replicated in multiple independent studies, although clinical relevance may still vary. [4]

A 2025 consensus review evaluated current clinical practices and recent advancements in rTMS for depression. The review concluded that rTMS is a safe and effective treatment modality, with a growing body of evidence supporting its use in treatment-resistant depression. [13] rTMS, particularly high-frequency stimulation of the left DLPFC, appears to have demonstrated reproducible acute antidepressant effects in MDD, with growing evidence supporting its efficacy, durability, and potential superiority over medication in treatment-resistant cases. Traditional rTMS protocols have been established, while newer approaches—such as iTBS and individualized, image-guided targeting—have shown promise in reducing treatment time and potentially enhancing clinical outcomes.

Existing evidence suggests that rTMS, particularly targeting the DLPFC and supplementary motor area, reduces OCD symptoms, while results for the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex using deep transcranial magnetic stimulation are more variable; the overall heterogeneity of studies highlights the need for further research. [14] rTMS had a large effect size advantage over sham for depression (Hedges's g = 0.791) in a 2023 meta-analysis. [15]

However, the effectiveness of rTMS and the quality of evidence behind it for treatment of depression have been questioned. [16] As with antidepressants and other interventions for depression, there is a large placebo response with sham control groups in rTMS trials (Hedges's g = 0.8). [17]

A 2011 review found that only 13.5% of 96 randomized control studies of rTMS to the DLPFC had reported blinding success and that, in those studies, people in real rTMS groups were significantly more likely to think that they had received real rTMS, compared with those in sham rTMS groups. [18] Depending on the research question asked and the experimental design, matching the discomfort of rTMS to distinguish true effects from placebo can be an important and challenging issue. [19]

Two pivotal clinical trials led to the first FDA marketing authorizations for rTMS devices indicated for use in treatment-resistant MDD. While the results of both trials had statistical significance at 6 weeks post-treatment, interventions outperformed sham by means of only 2 to 3 points on the 60-point Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). [20] In the primary outcome measure for the second such trial, there were only 18 remitters (9.5% of the intention-to-treat population): 14.1% in the active treatment arm and 5.1% in the sham treatment arm. The odds ratio for the remitters was 4.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-13.24; p = .02. The number needed to treat (the average number of patients who need to be treated to prevent one additional bad outcome) was 12. [21]

Adverse effects

TMS is generally advertised as a safe alternative to medications such as SSRI's. The greatest immediate risk from TMS is fainting, though this is uncommon. Seizures have been reported, but are rare. [6] [22]

Risks are higher for therapeutic rTMS than for single or paired diagnostic TMS. [23] Adverse effects generally increase with higher frequency stimulation. [6] In a randomized controlled trial investigating the antidepressant effects of daily rTMS to the left DLPFC using an active electrical sham stimulation system, the pain associated with active, but not sham, TMS decreased rapidly over time. [24]

Procedure

During the procedure, a magnetic coil is positioned at the head of the person receiving the treatment using anatomical landmarks on the skull, in particular the inion and nasion. [7] The coil is then connected to a pulse generator, or stimulator, that delivers electric current to the coil. [2]

Physics

TMS focal field.png
TMS - butterfly coils TMS Butterfly Coil HEAD.png
TMS – butterfly coils

TMS uses electromagnetic induction to generate an electric current across the scalp and skull. [25] [26] A plastic-enclosed coil of wire is held next to the skull and when activated, produces a varying magnetic field oriented orthogonally to the plane of the coil. The changing magnetic field then induces an electric current in the brain that activates nearby nerve cells in a manner similar to a current applied superficially at the cortical surface. [27]

The magnetic field is about the same strength as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the pulse generally reaches no more than 5 centimeters into the brain unless using a modified coil and technique for deeper stimulation. [26]

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is achieved by quickly discharging current from a large capacitor into a coil to produce pulsed magnetic fields between 2 and 3 teslas in strength. [28] Directing the magnetic field pulse at a targeted area in the brain causes a localized electrical current which can then either depolarize or hyperpolarize neurons at that site. The induced electric field inside the brain tissue causes a change in transmembrane potentials resulting in depolarization or hyperpolarization of neurons, causing them to be more or less excitable, respectively. [28]

TMS usually stimulates to a depth from 2 to 4 cm below the surface, depending on the coil and intensity used. Consequently, only superficial brain areas can be affected. [29] Deep TMS can reach up to 6 cm into the brain to stimulate deeper layers of the motor cortex, such as that which controls leg motion. The path of this current can be difficult to model because the brain is irregularly shaped with variable internal density and water content, leading to a nonuniform magnetic field strength and conduction throughout its tissues. [30]

Frequency and duration

The effects of TMS can be divided based on frequency, duration and intensity (amplitude) of stimulation: [31]

Coil types

Most devices use a coil shaped like a figure-eight to deliver a shallow magnetic field that affects more superficial neurons in the brain. [36] Differences in magnetic coil design are considered when comparing results, with important elements including the type of material, geometry and specific characteristics of the associated magnetic pulse.

The core material may be either a magnetically inert substrate ('air core'), or a solid, ferromagnetically active material ('solid core'). Solid cores result in more efficient transfer of electrical energy to a magnetic field and reduce energy loss to heat, and so can be operated with the higher volume of therapy protocols without interruption due to overheating. Varying the geometric shape of the coil itself can cause variations in focality, shape, and depth of penetration. Differences in coil material and its power supply also affect magnetic pulse width and duration. [37]

A number of different types of coils exist, each of which produce different magnetic fields. The round coil is the original used in TMS. Later, the figure-eight (butterfly) coil was developed to provide a more focal pattern of activation in the brain, and the four-leaf coil for focal stimulation of peripheral nerves. The double-cone coil conforms more to the shape of the head. [38] The Hesed (H-core), circular crown and double cone coils allow more widespread activation and a deeper magnetic penetration. They are supposed to impact deeper areas in the motor cortex and cerebellum controlling the legs and pelvic floor, for example, though the increased depth comes at the cost of a less focused magnetic pulse. [6]

Research directions

TMS is oftentimes combined with electroencephalography (EEG) to assess functional connectivity. [39] Low-profile electrodes have been developed for concurrent TMS–EEG in order to reduce mechanical coupling and maintain stable contact during stimulation; one example is the ultra-flat TMS–EEG electrode g.Ladybird, developed by g.tec medical engineering GmbH, an Austria-based neurotechnology company. [40]

For Parkinson's disease, early results suggest that low frequency stimulation may have an effect on medication associated dyskinesia, and that high frequency stimulation improves motor function. [41]

The cerebellar cortex as a possible target of TMS has been investigated in combination with EMG, and a reduction in the average amplitude of motor-evoked-potentials in small hand muscles has been observed when comparing paired-pulse TMS with a 6-8 ms interstimulus interval between cerebellar TMS and TMS to the primary motor cortex with single-pulse TMS to the primary motor cortex - a phenomenon termed cerebellum brain inhibition (CBI). [42] [43] Recent investigations have built upon this phenomenon to investigate the feasibility of combining EEG with cerebellar TMS to find signatures of the cerebellum-to-cerebrum functional connectivity in high temporal resultion. [44] By applying control conditions accounting for multisensory input and concomitant occipital cortex stimulation, and confirming effective cerebellar TMS by assessing CBI beforehand and modelling the induced electric field, EEG signatures of cerebellar TMS were proposed - as they may be utilized as therapeutic biomarkers to test pharmacotherapy efficacy in spinocerebellar ataxia in the future. [45] [46] [47] However, these EEG signatures are still openly debated in the field of Brain Stimulation due to their inconsistency - likely, differing stimulation targets due to the lack of neuronavigation in these studies explain these discrepancies in results. [48]

History

Luigi Galvani (1737–1798) undertook research on the effects of electricity on the body in the late-eighteenth century and laid the foundations for the field of electrophysiology. [49] In the 1830s, Michael Faraday (1791–1867) discovered that an electrical current had a corresponding magnetic field, and that changing one could induce its counterpart. [50]

Work to directly stimulate the human brain with electricity started in the late 1800s, and by the 1930s the Italian physicians Cerletti and Bini had developed electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). [49] ECT became widely used to treat mental illness, and ultimately overused, as it began to be seen as a panacea. This led to a backlash in the 1970s. [49]

In 1980, Merton and Morton successfully used transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) to stimulate the motor cortex. However, this process was very uncomfortable, and subsequently Anthony T. Barker began to search for an alternative to TES. [51] He began exploring the use of magnetic fields to alter electrical signaling within the brain, and the first stable TMS devices were developed in 1985. [49] [50] They were originally intended as diagnostic and research devices, with evaluation of their therapeutic potential being a later development. [49] [50] The FDA first cleared TMS devices in October 2008. [49]

Regulatory status

As of January 2026, the FDA had authorized under two regulatory pathways the marketing of more than 50 TMS devices for various indications of use within the United States. These pathways are (1) the premarket notification (PMN), also known as a 510(k) submission, and (2) the de novo classification request. The FDA grants de novo classification requests if it finds that the data and information provided demonstrate that general controls or general and special controls are adequate to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness, and the probable benefits of the device outweigh the probable risks. [52] Among the devices authorized for marketing under these two pathways are:

Speech mapping prior to neurosurgery

In December 2009, in response to a PMN, the Finnish company Nexstim OY obtained FDA clearance for the Nexstim eXimia Navigated Brain Stimulation System for the non-invasive mapping of the primary motor cortex of the brain to its cortical gyrus for the assessment of the primary motor cortex for pre-procedural planning. [53] In May 2012, in response to a subsequent PMN, the company obtained such clearance for the Nexstim Navigational Brain Stimulation System 4 and the Nexstim NBS System 4 with NEXSPEECH® for the localization and assessment of cortical areas of speech function for pre-procedural planning purposes. [54]

Depression

In July 2011, in response to a petition by the US company, Neuronetics, Inc., the FDA classified under its de novo classification pathway the NeuroStar TMS System as a Class II (moderate risk) medical device for the treatment of MDD in patients who have failed to receive benefit from one antidepressant trial. [55]

In January 2013, in response to a PMN by the Israeli company, Brainsway, Ltd., the FDA cleared the Brainsway Deep TMS System for the treatment of depressive episodes in adult patients suffering from MDD who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from previous antidepressant medication treatment in the current episode. [56]

In May 2015, in response to a PMN by the UK company, The Magstim Company Ltd., the FDA cleared the Rapid2 Therapy System for the treatment of MDD in adult patients who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode. [57]

In September 2021, in response to a PMN by The Magstim Company Ltd., the FDA cleared the Horizon 3.0 TMS Therapy System for the treatment of MDD in adult patients who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode. [58]

In March 2023, in response to a PMN by The Magstim Company Ltd., the FDA cleared the Horizon 3.0 TMS Therapy System for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxiety symptoms for those who may exhibit comorbid anxiety symptoms in adult patients suffering from MDD and who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode. [59]

In October 2023, in response to a PMN by The Magstim Company Ltd., the FDA cleared the Horizon 3.0 TMS Therapy System for the treatment of MDD in adult patients who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode, as well as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from OCD. [60]

Headache

In March 2013, in response to a request by the US company eNeura Therapuetics LLC, the FDA classified under its de novo classification pathway the eNeura Therapeutics® CerenaTM Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator for the acute treatment of pain associated with migraine headache with aura. [61]

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD)

In September 2017, the FDA classified the Brainsway Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation System as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from OCD as a Class II medical device under its de novo classification pathway in response to a request from Brainsway Ltd. [62] In August 2018, the FDA permitted the marketing of the device for the treatment of OCD in response to a subsequent de novo classification request from the company. [63]

In August 2020, the FDA cleared the MagVenture TMS Therapy system for the treatment of OCD in response to a PMN by the Danish company Tonica Elektronik A/S. [64]

In May 2022, the FDA cleared the NeuroStar Advanced Therapy for the adjunctive treatment of OCD in response to a PMN by Neuronetics, Inc. [65]

In October 2023, in response to a PMN by The Magstim Company Ltd., the FDA cleared the Horizon 3.0 TMS Therapy System for the treatment of MDD in adult patients who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode, as well as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from OCD. [66]

Psychiatric disorders and conditions

In August 2018, in response to a request by Brainsway Ltd., the FDA classified under its de novo classification pathway the generic type of device transcranial magnetic stimulation system for neurological and psychiatric disorders and conditions as a Class II medical device that is identified as a prescription, non-implantable device that uses brief duration, rapidly alternating, or pulsed, magnetic fields to induce neural activity in the cerebral cortex. [67]

Smoking cessation

In August 2020, the FDA cleared the Brainsway Deep TMS System for use as an aid in short term smoking cessation in adults in response to a PMN by Brainsway Ltd. [68]

Other areas

In the European Economic Area, various versions of deep TMS H-coils have CE marking for Alzheimer's disease, [69] autism, [69] bipolar disorder, [70] epilepsy, [71] chronic pain, [70] MDD, [70] Parkinson's disease, [72] PTSD, [70] [73] schizophrenia (negative symptoms) [70] and to aid smoking cessation. [69] One review found tentative benefit for cognitive enhancement in healthy people. [74]

Coverage by health services and insurers

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom's NICE issues guidance to the National Health Service (NHS) in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. NICE guidance does not address whether the NHS should fund a procedure. Local NHS bodies (primary care trusts and hospital trusts) make decisions about funding after considering the clinical effectiveness of the procedure and whether the procedure represents value for money for the NHS. [75]

NICE evaluated TMS for severe depression in 2007, finding that TMS was safe, but with insufficient evidence for its efficacy. [76] Guidance was updated and replaced in 2015, concluding that evidence for short‑term efficacy of rTMS for depression was adequate, although the clinical response is variable, and ruling that rTMS for depression may be used with arrangements for clinical governance and audit. [77]

In January 2014, NICE reported the results of an evaluation of TMS for treating and preventing migraine (IPG 477). NICE found that short-term TMS is safe but there is insufficient evidence to evaluate safety for long-term and frequent uses. It found that evidence on the efficacy of TMS for the treatment of migraine is limited in quantity, that evidence for the prevention of migraine is limited in both quality and quantity. [78]

As of 2025, use of rTMS in the UK was reported to have remained limited due to the cost of equipment and establishing treatment centres. Camilla Nord, head of the Mental Health Neuroscience Lab at the University of Cambridge said, "The NHS has unfortunately been far behind the US and Canada on rTMS, which is at least as effective as antidepressants, if not more". [79]

United States

Commercial health insurance

In 2013, several commercial health insurance plans in the United States, including Anthem, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska and of Rhode Island, covered TMS for the treatment of depression for the first time. [80] In contrast, UnitedHealthcare issued a medical policy for TMS in 2013 that stated there is insufficient evidence that the procedure is beneficial for health outcomes in patients with depression. UnitedHealthcare noted that methodological concerns raised about the scientific evidence studying TMS for depression include small sample size, lack of a validated sham comparison in randomized controlled studies, and variable uses of outcome measures. [81] Other commercial insurance plans whose 2013 medical coverage policies stated that the role of TMS in the treatment of depression and other disorders had not been clearly established or remained investigational included Aetna, Cigna and Regence. [82]

Medicare

Policies for Medicare coverage vary among local jurisdictions within the Medicare system, [83] and Medicare coverage for TMS has varied among jurisdictions and with time. For example:

  • In early 2012 in New England, Medicare covered TMS for the first time in the United States. [84] However, that jurisdiction later decided to end coverage after October, 2013. [85]
  • In August 2012, the jurisdiction covering Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico determined that there was insufficient evidence to cover the treatment, [86] but the same jurisdiction subsequently determined that Medicare would cover TMS for the treatment of depression after December 2013. [87]

Limitations

There are serious concerns about stimulating brain tissue using non-invasive magnetic field methods such as uncertainty in the dose and localisation of the stimulation effect. [88]

See also

References

  1. "Transcranial magnetic stimulation for treating and preventing migraine". National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. January 2014.
  2. 1 2 Miller, Michael Craig (July 26, 2012). "Magnetic stimulation: a new approach to treating depression?". Harvard Health Publishing.
  3. 1 2 Multiple sources:
  4. 1 2 Lefaucheur JP, Aleman A, Baeken C, Benninger DH, Brunelin J, et al. (February 2020). "Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): An update (2014-2018)". Clin Neurophysiol. 131 (2): 474–528. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2019.11.002. hdl: 10362/147799 . PMID   31901449.
  5. McClintock, S. M.; Carpenter, L. L.; Downar, J.; et al. (2025). "Consensus review and considerations on TMS to treat depression". *Journal of the Neurological Sciences*. 459: 121579. doi:[10.1016/j.jns.2024.121579](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2024.121579).
  6. 1 2 3 4 Rossi; et al. (January 2021). "Safety and recommendations for TMS use in healthy subjects and patient populations, with updates on training, ethical and regulatory issues: Expert Guidelines". Clinical Neurophysiology. 132 (1): 269–306. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2020.10.003. PMC   9094636 . PMID   33243615. S2CID   225049093.
  7. 1 2 Nauczyciel C, Hellier P, Morandi X, Blestel S, Drapier D, Ferre JC, et al. (April 2011). "Assessment of standard coil positioning in transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression". Psychiatry Research. 186 (2–3): 232–8. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2010.06.012. PMID   20692709. S2CID   25100990.
  8. Klomjai, Wanalee; Katz, Rose; Lackmy-Vallée, Alexandra (2015-09-01). "Basic principles of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and repetitive TMS (rTMS)". Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 58 (4): 208–213. doi: 10.1016/j.rehab.2015.05.005 . ISSN   1877-0657. PMID   26319963.
  9. Lefaucher, Jean-Pascal (2019). "37. Transcranial magnetic stimulation". In Levin, Kerry H.; Chauvel, Patrick (eds.). Clinical Neurophysiology: Basis and Technical Aspects. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Vol. 160. Elsevier. pp. 559–580. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64032-1.00037-0. ISBN   978-0-444-64032-1. PMID   31277876.
  10. 1 2 Groppa S, Oliviero A, Eisen A, Quartarone A, Cohen LG, Mall V, et al. (May 2012). "A practical guide to diagnostic transcranial magnetic stimulation: report of an IFCN committee". Clinical Neurophysiology. 123 (5): 858–882. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2012.01.010. PMC   4890546 . PMID   22349304.
  11. Multiple sources:
  12. Chen R, Cros D, Curra A, Di Lazzaro V, Lefaucheur JP, Magistris MR, Mills K, Rösler KM, Triggs WJ, Ugawa Y, Ziemann U (March 2008). "The clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation: report of an IFCN committee". Clin Neurophysiol. 119 (3): 504–532. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2007.10.014. PMID   18063409.
  13. Nicholas T. Trapp, Anthony Purgianto, Joseph J. Taylor, Manpreet K. Singh,Lindsay M. Oberman, Brian J. Mickey, Nagy A. Youssef, Daniela Solzbacher, Benjamin Zebley, Laura Y. Cabrera, Susan Conroy, Mario Cristancho, Jackson R. Richards, Michael J. Flood, Tracy Barbour, Daniel M. Blumberger, Stephan F. Taylor, David Feifel, Irving M. Reti, Shawn M. McClintock, Sarah H. Lisanby, Mustafa M. Husain, National Network of Depression Centers Neuromodulation Task Group (2025). "Consensus review and considerations on TMS to treat depression: A comprehensive update endorsed by the National Network of Depression Centers, the Clinical TMS Society, and the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology" (PDF). Clinical Neurophysiology . 170: 206–233. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2024.12.015 . Retrieved 21 January 2026 via Science Direct.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. Kar, Sujita Kumar; Agrawal, Aditya; Silva-Dos-Santos, Amílcar; Gupta, Yogesh; Deng, Zhi-De (2024). "The Efficacy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses" (PDF). CNS Spectrums. 29 (2): 109–118. doi:10.1017/S1092852923006387. ISSN   1092-8529. PMC   11524532 . PMID   38053347.
  15. Dalhuisen I, van Bronswijk S, Bors J, Smit F, Spijker J, Tendolkar I, Ruhé HG, van Eijndhoven P (October 2022). "The association between sample and treatment characteristics and the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression: A meta-analysis and meta-regression of sham-controlled trials" (PDF). Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 141 104848. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104848. hdl: 2066/253508 . PMID   36049675 via Science Direct.
  16. Multiple sources:
  17. Razza LB, Moffa AH, Moreno ML, Carvalho AF, Padberg F, Fregni F, Brunoni AR (February 2018). "A systematic review and meta-analysis on placebo response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression trials". Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 81: 105–113. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.10.016. PMID   29111404. Placebo response was large (g=0.8, 95% CI=0.65-0.95, p<0.01) regardless of the modality of intervention.
  18. Broadbent, Hannah J; van den Eynde, Frederique; Guillaume, Sebastien; Hanif, Emma L; Stahl, Daniel; David, Anthony S; Campbell, Iain C; Schmidt, Ulrike (2011). "Blinding success of rTMS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in randomised sham-controlled trials: a systematic review". World J Biol Psychiatry. 12 (4): 240–248. doi:10.3109/15622975.2010.541281. PMID   21426265. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  19. Rossi, Simone; Hallett, Mark; Rossini, Paolo M.; Pascual-Leone, Alvaro; The Safety of TMS Consensus Group (2009). "Safety, ethical considerations, and application guidelines for the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in clinical practice and research" (PDF). Clin Neurophysiol. 120 (12): 2008–2039. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2009.08.016. PMID   19833552. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026. Mimicking the cutaneous sensation experienced during rTMS has been a challenging aspect of developing an optimal sham condition (see Ruohonen et al., 2000; Lisanby et al., 2001; Sommer et al., 2006a; Rossi et al., 2007b; Arana et al., 2008). The cutaneous sensation is caused when rTMS stimulates scalp muscles producing a twitch in the scalp or upper face that can be uncomfortable for some, painful for others.
  20. Multiple sources:
  21. George, MS; Lisanby, SH; Avery, D; McDonald, WM; Durkalski, V; Pavlicova, M; Anderson, B; Nahas, Z; Bulow, P; Zarkowski, P; Holtzheimer, PE; Schwartz, T; Sackeim, HA (May 2010). "Daily left prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for major depressive disorder: a sham-controlled randomized trial". Arch Gen Psychiatry . 67 (5): 507–516. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.46. PMID   20439832. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  22. Multiple sources:
  23. van den Noort M, Lim S, Bosch P (December 2014). "Recognizing the risks of brain stimulation". Science. 346 (6215): 1307. doi:10.1126/science.346.6215.1307-a. hdl: 2066/133976 . PMID   25504707.
  24. Borckardt, Jeffrey J; Nahas, Ziad H; Teal, John; Lisanby, Sarah H; McDonald, William M; Avery, David; Durkalski, Valerie; Pavlicova, Martina; Long, James M; Sackeim, Harold A; George, Mark S (2013). "The painfulness of active, but not sham, transcranial magnetic stimulation decreases rapidly over time: results from the double-blind phase of the OPT-TMS Trial" (PDF). Brain Stimul. 6 (6): 925–928. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2013.04.009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  25. Cavaleri R, Schabrun SM, Chipchase LS (March 2017). "The number of stimuli required to reliably assess corticomotor excitability and primary motor cortical representations using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): a systematic review and meta-analysis". Systematic Reviews. 6 (1) 48. doi: 10.1186/s13643-017-0440-8 . PMC   5340029 . PMID   28264713.
  26. 1 2 "Brain Stimulation Therapies". NIMH.
  27. Cacioppo JT, Tassinary LG, Berntson GG, eds. (2007). Handbook of psychophysiology (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 121. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511546396. ISBN   978-0-521-84471-0.
  28. 1 2 Walsh, V.; Pascual-Leone, A. (2003). Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Neurochronometrics of Mind. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. doi:10.7551/mitpress/6896.001.0001. ISBN   978-0-262-28573-5. OCLC   53889320.
  29. Lefaucheur JP, André-Obadia N, Antal A, Ayache SS, Baeken C, Benninger DH, Cantello RM, Cincotta M, de Carvalho M, De Ridder D, Devanne H, Di Lazzaro V, Filipović SR, Hummel FC, Jääskeläinen SK, Kimiskidis VK, Koch G, Langguth B, Nyffeler T, Oliviero A, Padberg F, Poulet E, Rossi S, Rossini PM, Rothwell JC, Schönfeldt-Lecuona C, Siebner HR, Slotema CW, Stagg CJ, Valls-Sole J, Ziemann U, Paulus W, Garcia-Larrea L (November 2014). "Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)" (PDF). Clin Neurophysiol. 125 (11): 2150–2206. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2014.05.021. PMID   25034472.
  30. Multiple sources:
  31. Rubens MT, Zanto TP (March 2012). "Parameterization of transcranial magnetic stimulation". Journal of Neurophysiology. 107 (5): 1257–9. doi:10.1152/jn.00716.2011. PMC   3311692 . PMID   22072509.
  32. Pascual-Leone A, Davey N, Rothwell J, Wassermann EM, Puri BK (2002). Handbook of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. London: Edward Arnold. ISBN   978-0-340-72009-7. OCLC   47824021.
  33. Cusin C, Dougherty DD (August 2012). "Somatic therapies for treatment-resistant depression: ECT, TMS, VNS, DBS". Biology of Mood & Anxiety Disorders. 2 (1) 14. doi: 10.1186/2045-5380-2-14 . PMC   3514332 . PMID   22901565.
  34. Fitzgerald PB, Fountain S, Daskalakis ZJ (December 2006). "A comprehensive review of the effects of rTMS on motor cortical excitability and inhibition". Clinical Neurophysiology. 117 (12): 2584–96. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2006.06.712. PMID   16890483. S2CID   31458874.
  35. Baur D, Galevska D, Hussain S, Cohen LG, Ziemann U, Zrenner C (2020). "Induction of LTD-like corticospinal plasticity by low-frequency rTMS depends on pre-stimulus phase of sensorimotor μ-rhythm". Brain Stimul. 13 (6): 1580–7. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2020.09.005. PMC   7710977 . PMID   32949780.
  36. Bersani, F.S.; Minichino, A.; Enticott, P.G.; Mazzarini, L.; Khan, N.; Antonacci, G.; Raccah, R.N.; Salviati, M.; Delle Chiaie, R.; Bersani, G.; Fitzgerald, P.B.; Biondi, M. (January 2013). "Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation as a treatment for psychiatric disorders: A comprehensive review". European Psychiatry. 28 (1): 30–39. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2012.02.006. PMID   22559998. S2CID   29053871.
  37. Riehl M (2008). "TMS Stimulator Design". In Wassermann EM, Epstein CM, Ziemann U, Walsh V, Paus T, Lisanby SH (eds.). Oxford Handbook of Transcranial Stimulation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 13–23, 25–32. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198568926.013.0003. ISBN   978-0-19-856892-6.
  38. Roth BJ, Maccabee PJ, Eberle LP, Amassian VE, Hallett M, Cadwell J, et al. (February 1994). "In vitro evaluation of a 4-leaf coil design for magnetic stimulation of peripheral nerve". Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology. 93 (1): 68–74. doi:10.1016/0168-5597(94)90093-0. PMID   7511524.
  39. Wassermann, Eric M.; Peterchev, Angel V.; Ziemann, Ulf; Lisanby, Sarah H.; Siebner, Hartwig R.; Walsh, Vincent, eds. (2021-02-10). The Oxford Handbook of Transcranial Stimulation. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198832256.001.0001. ISBN   978-0-19-883225-6.
  40. "g.Ladybird active EEG electrodes for TMS". g.tec medical engineering GmbH. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  41. Multiple sources:
  42. Ugawa, Yoshikazu; Uesaka, Yoshikazu; Terao, Yasuo; Hanajima, Ritsuko; Kanazawa, Ichiro (1995). "Magnetic stimulation over the cerebellum in humans" . Annals of Neurology. 37 (6): 703–713. doi:10.1002/ana.410370603. ISSN   1531-8249. PMID   7778843.
  43. Fernandez, Lara; Major, Brendan P.; Teo, Wei-Peng; Byrne, Linda K.; Enticott, Peter G. (2018-03-01). "Assessing cerebellar brain inhibition (CBI) via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): A systematic review" . Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 86: 176–206. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.11.018. ISSN   0149-7634. PMID   29208533.
  44. Fernandez, Lara; Biabani, Mana; Do, Michael; Opie, George M.; Hill, George M.; Barham, Aron T.; Teo, Michael P.; Teo, Wei-Peng; Byrne, Linda K.; Rogasch, Nigel C.; Enticott, Peter G. (1 May 2021). "Assessing cerebellar-cortical connectivity using concurrent TMS-EEG: a feasibility study" . Journal of Neurophysiology. 125 (5): 1768–1787. doi:10.1152/jn.00617.2020. ISSN   0022-3077. PMID   33788622.
  45. Multiple sources:
  46. Gassmann, Lukas; Gordon, Pedro Caldana; Roy, Olivier; Kaut, Oliver; Hömberg, Volker; Ziemann, Ulf (August 2023). "Cerebellar TMS-EEG in a chronic stroke patient with connectional diaschisis of the dentato-thalamo-cortical tract" . Clinical Neurophysiology. 152: 68–70. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2023.05.009. PMID   37329656.
  47. Fong, Po-Yu; Spampinato, Danny; Michell, Kevin; Mancuso, Marco; Brown, Katlyn; Ibáñez, Jaime; Santo, Alessandro Di; Latorre, Anna; Bhatia, Kailash; Rothwell, John C; Rocchi, Lorenzo (July 2023). "EEG responses induced by cerebellar TMS at rest and during visuomotor adaptation". NeuroImage. 275 120188. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120188. hdl: 11584/367083 . PMID   37230209.
  48. Multiple sources:
  49. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Horvath JC, Perez JM, Forrow L, Fregni F, Pascual-Leone A (March 2011). "Transcranial magnetic stimulation: a historical evaluation and future prognosis of therapeutically relevant ethical concerns". Journal of Medical Ethics. 37 (3): 137–143. doi:10.1136/jme.2010.039966. JSTOR   23034661. PMID   21106996. S2CID   13262044.
  50. 1 2 3 Noohi S, Amirsalari S (2016). "History, Studies and Specific Uses of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Treating Epilepsy". Iranian Journal of Child Neurology. 10 (1): 1–8. PMC   4815479 . PMID   27057180.
  51. Klomjai W, Katz R, Lackmy-Vallée A (September 2015). "Basic principles of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and repetitive TMS (rTMS)". Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 58 (4): 208–213. doi: 10.1016/j.rehab.2015.05.005 . PMID   26319963.
  52. Multiple sources:
  53. Fydelman, Malvina B. (8 December 2009). "510(k) Summary: Nexstim eXimia Navigated Brain Stimulation System" (PDF). Food and Drug Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 February 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  54. Fydelman, Malvina B. (22 May 2012). "510(k) Summary: Nexstim Navigational Brain Stimulation (NBS) System 4, and Nexstim NBS System 4 with NEXSPEECH®" (PDF). Food and Drug Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  55. Multiple sources:
  56. Multiple sources:
  57. Multiple sources:
  58. Multiple sources:
  59. Scott, Pamela (16 March 2023). "Letter: 510(k) Premarket Notification: Magstim Horizon 3.0 TMS Therapy System, Horizon 3.0 System, Horizon 3.0, H3.0, Horizon 3.0 with StimGuide+" (PDF). Food and Drug Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  60. Multiple sources:
  61. Multiple sources:
  62. "De Novo Summary (DEN170078): De Novo Classification Request for Brainsway Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation System" (PDF). Food and Drug Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2025. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  63. "FDA News Release: FDA permits marketing of transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder". Food and Drug Administration. 17 August 2018. Archived from the original on 21 December 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  64. Multiple sources:
  65. Multiple sources:
  66. Multiple sources:
  67. Schiller, Lowell J. (14 March 2019). "Medical Devices; Neurological Devices; Classification of the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation System for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders and Conditions, Food and Drug Administration, HHS: Final order" (PDF). Federal Register . 84 (50): 9228–9230. FR Doc. 2019–04709. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  68. "510(k) Premarket Notification: Brainsway Deep TMS System for short term smoking cessation in adults". Food and Drug Administration. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2025 via Scribd.
  69. 1 2 3 "Brainsway reports positive Deep TMS system trial data for OCD". Medical Device Network. Medicaldevice-network. September 6, 2013. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  70. 1 2 3 4 5 "Brainsway's Deep TMS EU Cleared for Neuropathic Chronic Pain". Medgadget. July 3, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  71. Gersner R, Oberman L, Sanchez MJ, Chiriboga N, Kaye HL, Pascual-Leone A, et al. (2016-01-01). "H-coil repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy: A case report". Epilepsy & Behavior Case Reports. 5 (Supplement C): 52–56. doi:10.1016/j.ebcr.2016.03.001. PMC   4832041 . PMID   27114902.
  72. Multiple sources:
  73. Petrosino, Nicholas J.; Cosmo, Camila; Berlow, Yosef A.; Zandvakili, Amin; van 't Wout-Frank, Mascha; Philip, Noah S. (2021). "Transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-traumatic stress disorder". Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology . 11 20451253211049921. doi: 10.1177/20451253211049921 . PMC   8558793 . PMID   34733479.
  74. Luber B, Lisanby SH (January 2014). "Enhancement of human cognitive performance using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)". NeuroImage. 85 Pt 3 (3): 961–970. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.06.007. PMC   4083569 . PMID   23770409.
  75. NICE About NICE: What we do
  76. "Transcranial magnetic stimulation for severe depression". London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. 2011-03-04. IPG242.
  77. "Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression". National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. 16 December 2015. IPG542. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  78. "Transcranial magnetic stimulation for treating and preventing migraine". London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  79. Cox, David (11 January 2025). "Is a brain-stimulation headset the answer to depression?". the Guardian.
  80. Multiple sources:
  81. UnitedHealthcare (2013-12-01). "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation" (PDF). UnitedHealthCare. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
  82. Multiple sources:
  83. "Medicare Administrative Contractors". Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 2013-07-10. Archived from the original on 2014-02-14. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
  84. Multiple sources:
  85. National Government Services, Inc. (2013-10-25). "Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (L32038)". Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services . Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  86. Novitas Solutions, Inc. (2013-12-04). "LCD L32752 – Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression". Contractor's Determination Number L32752. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services . Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  87. Novitas Solutions, Inc. (2013-12-05). "LCD L33660 – Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for the Treatment of Depression". Contractor's Determination Number L33660. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services . Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  88. Multiple sources: