Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Applications in Neurological Disorders
Summary
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique that delivers brief magnetic pulses to the cerebral cortex, inducing electric currents that modulate neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity. Various protocols such as single-pulse TMS, paired-pulse TMS and repetitive TMS (rTMS) enable the targeting of specific cortical regions to alter functional connectivity within neural networks. Clinically, rTMS has been applied across a spectrum of neurological disorders including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and migraine. In stroke rehabilitation, TMS promotes motor recovery by enhancing perilesional reorganisation and network integration. In neurodegenerative conditions, focal stimulation of memory-related hubs can strengthen residual circuits and delay cognitive decline. In movement disorders and epilepsy, modulation of cortical excitability may reduce pathological oscillations and alleviate motor or seizure symptoms. Safety and tolerability are well established, with adverse effects largely limited to transient discomfort and, rarely, headache. Continued refinement of coil design, stimulation parameters and neuronavigation is expanding the precision and efficacy of TMS, while mechanistic research into neurotransmitter dynamics, neurotrophic factors and network oscillations is informing protocol optimisation. The global significance of TMS lies in its capacity to provide personalised neuromodulation therapies that complement pharmacological and behavioural interventions, offering functional gains and improved quality of life across diverse patient populations.
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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Applications in Neurological Disorders publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in transcranial magnetic stimulation applications in neurological disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): A TMS protocol delivering trains of pulses at fixed frequencies to induce lasting changes in cortical excitability.
Synaptic plasticity: The activity-dependent strengthening or weakening of synaptic connections, encompassing long-term potentiation and long-term depression.
Default mode network (DMN): A set of interconnected brain regions active during rest and implicated in memory, self-referential thought and network integrity in neurodegeneration.
Motor evoked potential (MEP): An electrical response recorded from muscles following TMS over the motor cortex, used as a measure of cortical excitability.
Neuromodulation: The process of altering neuronal network activity through targeted stimulation to achieve therapeutic outcomes.
References
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the precuneus enhances memory and neural activity in prodromal Alzheimer's disease. NeuroImage (2017).
- Possible Mechanisms Underlying the Therapeutic Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (2015).
- Efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation on cognitive functioning in brain disorders: a meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine (2020).
- Concordance Between BeamF3 and MRI-neuronavigated Target Sites for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex. Brain Stimulation (2015).
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the brain: What is stimulated? – A consensus and critical position paper. Clinical Neurophysiology (2022).
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