Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS, can be used to activate or deactive a brain region. But how does it work.

Whereas single pulses of TMS can activate a brain region for a fraction of a second, repetitive TMS pulses can have effects after stimulation has ended. There are several protocol. Conventional rTMS protocols include low frequency rTMS and high frequency rTMS. More recent, patterned rTMS protocols include intermittent theta burst stimulation, or iTBS and continuous theta burst stimulation or cTBS.

Generally high frequency rTMS and iTBS are thought to help neuroplasticity and activate the brain. Low frequency rTMS and cTBS are though to decrease brain activity. However, this should be taken with a grain of salt, since the results of rTMS can be variable. Effects differ between people and can differ from day to day. That is because rTMS effects depend on the current brain state.

References/resources:
Hoogendam, J. M., Ramakers, G. M., & Di Lazzaro, V. (2010). Physiology of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the human brain. Brain stimulation, 3(2), 95–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2009.10...

Lefaucheur, J. P., André-Obadia, N., Antal, A., et al. (2014). Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology, 125(11), 2150–2206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2014...

Wischnewski, M., & Schutter, D. J. (2015). Efficacy and Time Course of Theta Burst Stimulation in Healthy Humans. Brain stimulation, 8(4), 685–692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2015.03...

Narrated by: Miles Wischnewski

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